data center Resources
Background Information
On the evening of September 22nd, 2025, the Indianapolis City-County Council was prepared to vote on a rezoning proposal for 468 acres of farmland to make way for a massive hyperscale data center by Google in Franklin Township. Minutes before this vote was set to take place, a lawyer for the tech giant announced the company’s decision to withdraw their proposal. This victory was the result of months of resident-led organizing to pressure council members to reject the proposal. Unfortunately, there are at least 40 data centers either under construction, or planned for development, across Indiana; all at the urging of our state and federal leaders.
On September 25th, 2025, ECI’s Special Projects Coordinator Kevin Nichols attended the Midwest Data Center Investment Conference and Expo (DICE) in Chicago to learn more about the people behind the current boom in data center development. At DICE, industry insiders discussed tactics for deceiving and manipulating communities, downplayed the environmental costs of rapid development, and peddled a fantasy that these facilities are a tool for American dominance and freedom.
Data center developers have their sights set on our communities, our water, and our energy grids. However, Google’s decision to pull out of Franklin Township showed us that public pressure, even against a tech behemoth is effective. With development already underway on many of these projects, confronting new proposals with organized protest and vocal public opposition is the best way to slow this industry down. You can read all about Kevin’s experience at DICE and the three key lessons he learned here: Rolling the DICE on Data Center Development.
why reject data centers?
There are numerous reasons to be concerned about data center construction, whether it’s directly in your neighborhood or not. Those living close to these facilities complain about noise pollution, increased electric bills, water contamination, and even loss of water pressure, but the greenhouse gas pollution affects all of us.
1) They’re too expensive
The data center land grab, driven by the AI bubble, is accompanied with a staggering drain on local power and water supplies. Those energy and environmental costs are passed on to the local community while the profits are funneled up to tech billionaires. IBM’s own website states “Energy is more expensive depending on its location, and companies often look to undeveloped/underdeveloped countries or regional areas as potential building sites for their hyperscale data centers because the pricing of electricity is more attractive within those economies.” Translation: The already struggling neighbors and community members will pay for it.
2) They’re too thirsty
Data centers circulate millions of gallons of FRESH water every day to keep the servers cool. According to the Alliance for the Great Lakes “A hyperscale data center, the likes of which supports generative artificial intelligence, can use more than 365 million gallons of water a year.” And “There are no water use reporting requirements when users purchase water from municipal supplies. 97% of data center operators are buying water from municipal supplies, which can draw on groundwater aquifers. These users are not required to report or track their water use – less than 1/3 of data centers even track water use.”
3) They’re too dirty
The MASSIVE energy demands will be met by burning fossil fuels, pumping TONS of greenhouse gases into our atmosphere, accelerating climate change and negatively impacting public health. The millions of gallons of water they use becomes contaminated and pumped right back into our municipal treatment plants. We cannot justify this reckless disregard of the environmental impacts.
What can you do about it?
Community push back WORKS! If you are concerned about a data center proposal in your area speak up. Talk to your neighbors, local businesses, and local leaders. Start a petition and put up yard signs so the developer can see your resistance. We’ve collected some links below with more information and stories from communities impacted by data centers.