Residents urge Braun, lawmakers to regulate Indiana's growing data center industry

Data centers are expanding across Indiana, drawing praise for economic growth but sparking concern over how much power and land they consume.

Community members gathered at the Indiana State Library on Tuesday to share stories of pushing back against the developments. Lisa Vallee is an organizing director with Just Transition Northwest Indiana, a grassroots environmental justice group. She said communities do not have to surrender to the projects.

"It is not inevitable. It is a choice, and we have the power,” Vallee said.

At the event, attendees filled out notes to their elected representatives and Gov. Mike Braun, urging them to regulate the industry through new laws.

Indiana currently hosts dozens of data centers, with more projects proposed or in development. Experts say the state attracts these facilities because of affordable land and generous tax incentives passed by the General Assembly.

The governor recently celebrated a planned $10 billion Meta campus in Lebanon, citing it as a major economic win for the state. However, residents like Danielle Doepke of Fort Wayne say they want their representatives to prioritize quality of life over Big Tech.

Google is currently building a massive data center in Fort Wayne.

"A title of senator or Congress person, representative, or mayor will not protect you from the future that is coming if we all don't stand together and fight back," Doepke said.

The Indiana General Assembly's 2026 session is expected to end Friday.

Farrah Anderson is an investigative health reporter with WFYI and Side Effects Public Media. You can follow her on X at @farrahsoa or by email at fanderson@wfyi.org.