In Wheatfield, Indiana, local resident Cynthia North feels a deep frustration when she looks out at the construction site across from her home. She once took pride in her neighborhood, but now faces metal fences, trucks, and dirt mounds. To address the upcoming changes, North has been trying to sell her home after construction began on a nearby data center.
North resides across from Project Rise, a significant data center development. Her concerns about declining property values, noise, and water quality echo those of other residents. The construction site is located between E. 1350 N and County Road 300 in Kankakee Township, adjacent to NIPSCO’s R.M. Schahfer Generating Station. North, who has lived there for 12 years, is considering moving but worries about selling the property with the development underway.
A group of Jasper County residents, including North, are opposing the $7 billion data center project. They are raising $10,000 to secure legal representation and oppose the development through legal channels. Local activist Georgette Aguilar, living about six miles south of the site, expressed the community’s goal of stopping the project legally if possible. The funds aim to retain counsel to investigate compliance with industrial land use rules, law violations, and permit enforcement.
Aguilar stated, “Many people might not realize the scope of what’s occurring.” Despite months of public meetings, residents like Dawn Jefferson feel their voices weren’t heard, as decisions seemed predetermined when the community was informed.
North, along with other local activists, relied on advocacy groups like Just Transition Northwest Indiana for information on data center impacts. Ashley Williams from JTNWI criticized Amazon for expediting the project, bypassing standard procedures like zoning and environmental reviews.
According to Williams, the data center will consume between 22,000 and 27,000 gallons of water daily, spread over extensive construction affecting the quality of life and farmland in the area.
Josh Weissman from Amazon Web Services acknowledged community concerns and emphasized their commitment to aligning with local priorities and maintaining a higher community engagement standard. Despite federal orders keeping local coal plants operational, Amazon ensures separate contractual arrangements with NIPSCO for power supply.
Amazon plans to power its data centers independently, introducing new energy generation and battery storage solutions. Weissman highlighted the use of diesel generators for compliance with environmental standards, running primarily for testing purposes.
Residents remain frustrated with local officials, perceiving a lapse in community representation during project approval. County Attorney Eric Beaver stated county decisions complied with legal standards, while state or federal issues remain beyond local jurisdiction.
Overall, Jasper County officials emphasize unique aspects of this project, stating alleged impacts on water and electricity costs were assessed prior to approval.
Through Amazon’s investment, local water infrastructure improves, although North questions its adequacy for the immediate vicinity’s needs.
Despite active construction, Aguilar remains determined to continue her fight, focusing on the project’s broader implications for Jasper County’s future.