INDIANAPOLIS — Residents from across Indiana gathered Tuesday, Feb. 24 at the Indiana State Library for “The People’s Hearing on Data Centers,” an event organized by Hoosier Action to press state leaders for tighter oversight of the state’s rapidly expanding data center industry, citing concerns about electricity demand, land use and long-term community impacts.
Indiana is home to dozens of data centers, with additional projects proposed or under development. Industry experts say the state has become an attractive destination because of relatively low land costs and tax incentives approved by the Indiana General Assembly. Supporters argue the facilities bring jobs and billions in investment.
Gov. Mike Braun recently highlighted a planned $10 billion campus by Meta in Lebanon as a major economic development milestone for the state’s LEAP Lebanon Innovation District. Meanwhile, Google has completed construction on a large data center in Fort Wayne…