google data center - Franklin township

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Development Commission recently voted 8-1 in favor of rezoning 468 acres of Franklin Township land, allowing it to be repurposed as the site of a hyperscale datacenter. Southside residents vocally oppose this decision, citing increased energy costs, noise pollution, water usage, water pollution, and local environmental impacts. This proposed development would also have ramifications for Marion county residents beyond Franklin Township.

Some important background:

In 2017, the city of Indianapolis became the largest city in the country to pass a youth-led climate recovery resolution, committing to full carbon neutrality by 2050. In response, the Metropolitan Development Commission launched Thrive Indianapolis, with a goal to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.  Meeting the energy needs of the proposed data center poses an existential threat to our ability to achieve city-led emissions goals and breaks a promise made to our city’s youth.

AES has already signaled their intent to construct two new natural gas plants to meet projected energy demands. New gas plants would keep us reliant on fossil fuels and eliminate any hope for carbon neutrality by 2050. While a data center may be most inconvenient to those living in close proximity, the fossil fuel emissions created by a natural gas plant extend beyond Franklin Township and even Marion County. 

AES continues to have the highest profit margin out of all the investor-owned utility companies in Indiana, and they want to increase their profit margin even more. The cost of onsite and offsite operations, construction, maintenance, and raw materials needed to upkeep these new facilities leaves the consumer paying more in monthly utility bills once again. Soon, residents will be forced to subsidize the electric bills of larger corporations by paying a higher monthly bill increase and paying for the development of gas plants needed to power data centers for corporations. All the while, residents struggle to keep up with hikes in monthly utility bills.  

We need to take urgent action, and the best thing that you can do right now is contact your city council member to voice your opposition to this project. On September 8th, this decision will be called down to Indianapolis City Council, with a final vote scheduled to take place on September 22nd. Thirteen council members have publicly voiced their opposition to the project, but we need the votes of at least 2 more to halt plans for data center development.

stand up against big tech before september 22!

    • Leroy Robinson (District 1)

    • Brienne Delaney (District 2)

    • Dan Boots (District 3)

    • Nick Roberts (District 4)

    • Maggie Lewis (District 5)

    • Carlos Perkins (District 6)

    • Keith Graves (District 9)

    • Crista Carlino (District 11)

    • Jessica McCormick (District 16