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Fort Wayne Data Center Factsheet + Upcoming Opportunities
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Facts & Upcoming Action Dates

Find local groups working on this issue:

Follow FWDataCenter on Instagram and Bluesky, and join the FW Data Center groups on Facebook. #ProtectFortWayne #GoAwayGoogle

Find all the links at linktr.ee/stopfwdatacentercampus.

Additional information & action items: facebook.com/IndianaBeyondCoal  |  earthcharterindiana.org  |  citact.org

About Google’s (Hatchworks, LLC)
AI Data Center: “Project Zodiac”

 

Google’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) “Project Zodiac” data center is an industrial polluting project that sits on a sprawling 892 acre site currently under construction located on 6015 Adams Center Road, just seven miles from downtown Fort Wayne. Around 33.27 acres of wetlands are located at the site, and over 8 acres of these wetlands are being damaged or destroyed. In the days ahead, state decision makers will be asked to approve wetlands damage, a massive expansion of polluting diesel generators, and a plan to acquire a significant amount of new energy resources for Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) to power data centers. Your voice can make a difference in stopping these plans that impact our air, land, water, and the wellbeing of our families.

 CALL TO ACTION:

Call on Google to Withdraw Their Air Permit

Tell IDEM to Deny the Draft Air Permit

Click here to send a Public Comment via Earth Charter Indiana: Tell the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) to Deny the Draft Air Permit for Google’s Dirty Diesel Generators.

Google’s (Hatchworks, LLC) AI data center wants to increase the use of massive, onsite diesel-fired emergency generators from the 34 generators allowed by this 2024 permit to 174 with no pollution controls. Also listed in the permit are additional “ancillary” diesel-fired emergency generators, cooling towers, 179 diesel storage tanks with a capacity of 6,000 gallons each (over one million gallons combined) and other polluting equipment (see Section A: Source Summary). When operating, diesel-fired emergency generators release air pollution including particulate matter, nitrogen oxide, volatile organic compounds and hazardous air pollutants like formaldehyde, arsenic, carbon monoxide, and benzene along with other pollutants. After full permit review, the actual scope of this expansion is much larger than the public notice suggests. The notice vaguely states "new diesel-fired emergency generators" without specifying the quantity in public notice.

Learn more about diesel generators at Data Centers from the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter via this YouTube Video

https://youtu.be/QZ2vNR2tlDo?si=rutdaZfth0sLbcsM

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s Draft Air Permit would allow for over 980 tons/year of air pollutants to be emitted at this site (see chart below). Air pollutants can increase the risk of respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, cancer, neurological disorders, and more. A research paper published by researchers at UC Riverside and Caltech found that an increase in permits for diesel generators at data centers in Virginia since 2023 has been linked to 14,000 asthma symptom cases and caused as much as $300 million in health care costs.

IDEM should require Google’s AI Data Center to have a permit under the Prevention of Significant Deterioration Program as a Major Source to ensure better protections of public health including the use of Best Available Control Technology (BACT), a public health analysis, public involvement, and additional impact analysis (assessing soil, visibility and more). This Draft Air Permit should be denied because it does not match the realistic, potential air pollution emissions of this site and doesn’t do enough to protect public health.

Send a Public Comment via Earth Charter Indiana

🗓️November 17 l Public Comment Deadline

Address Comments to: Omar El-Rjoob IDEM, Office of Air Quality Indiana Government Center North 100 North Senate Avenue, Room 13W Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-2251

E-mail: oelrjoob@idem.IN.gov

Phone: (800) 451-6027 or (317) 232-4971 (direct line) ask for Omar El-Rjoob

Fax: (317) 232-6749

*Include the permit numbers in the subject line and in your comments*:  003-48739-00530 & 003-48840-00530

Example: “Deny Hatchworks LLC’s air permits No. 003-48739-00530 & 003-48840-00530”

IDEM Public Hearing Notice

Click here to view the permit

🔍 All comments will be considered by IDEM when a decision is made to issue or deny the draft air permit. Comments that are most likely to affect final permit decisions are those based on the rules and laws governing this permitting process (326 IAC 2), air quality issues, and technical issues. There is no limit on the number of times an individual can comment. Comments from the public, including from non-Indiana residents, will be accepted. IDEM does not have the legal authority to regulate zoning, odor, or noise. For such issues, please contact your local officials.

Background on IDEM’s Draft Air Permit

AQI = Air Quality Index

CO = carbon monoxide

EPA = US Environmental Protection Agency

NOx = nitrogen oxide

SO2 = sulfur dioxide

PM = particulate matter

PM2.5 = particulate matter ≤2.5 μm in diameter

PM10 =particulate matter ≤10 μm in diameter

VOC = volatile organic compounds

HAPs = Hazardous air pollutants

Tip: Use the Table of Contents in the permit application to navigate the document, you can click the title of the section you’d like to go to in most browsers to be taken to that location. You can find a site map in the Hatchworks application on pg 7.

The current Draft Air Permit is a Part 70 Operating Permit (also referred to as a Title V permit) incorporating the requirements of Title V of the federal Clean Air Act and U.S. EPA rules found at 40 CFR Part 70 for sources with a potential to emit (PTE) above Title V major source thresholds.

The “PSD Major Source Thresholds" are 250 tons/year for most of the pollutants listed above including NOx. If a site exceeds any of these thresholds, it would be required to seek a permit under EPA’s Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Program as a Major Source. The PSD program for major sources requires better protections for public health including the use of Best Available Control Technology (BACT) and requires a public health analysis, public involvement, and additional impact analysis (assessing soil, visibility and more).

To avoid PSD Major source requirements (i.e pollution controls), the company has agreed to accept a synthetic “emissions limit” from IDEM. For 174 of the diesel-fired emergency generators on site, emissions will be required not to exceed 244 tons/year of each of the following pollutants: NOx, VOC, and CO (See D.1.1 NOx,CO and VOC PSD Minor Limits).

The PSD Major Source Threshold for NOx is 250 tons/year. Under IDEM’s draft air permit, source-wide emissions limits would allow as much as ~249 tons/year of NOx.

From the permit modification ““The source opted to take limit(s) in order to render the requirements of 326 IAC 2-2 (Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD)) not applicable to this modification. See Technical Support Document (TSD) State Rule Applicability - Entire Source section, 326 IAC 2-2 (PSD) for more information regarding the limit(s). This modification to an existing minor PSD stationary source is not major because the emissions increase of each PSD regulated pollutant is less than the PSD major source threshold. Therefore, pursuant to 326 IAC 2-2, the PSD requirements do not apply.”

EPA regulations allow emergency generators to operate: The Environmental Protection Agency rules allow for diesel-fired emergency generators to operate for 100 hours each per year for testing and maintenance, including 50 hours of conditional non-emergency use (i.e power disruptions).

Unlimited hours for actual emergencies: According to the EPA website “in an emergency, such as hurricane or ice storm, any emergency engine of any size can operate without meeting federal control requirements or emission limits” - IDEM needs to clarify how they will ensure this site doesn’t exceed permit emissions limits because there is a 500 hour operation limit in the language of the Draft Air Permit, but the site would far exceed emissions limits for NOx if it operated at the capacity outlined in the permit.  

Musk’s xAI data center in Memphis was permitted as a smaller polluter than it had the capacity to be too, since starting operations the site has raised concerns about air quality issues in the community (this site uses methane generators) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VJT2JeDCyw

Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) is providing ~1,200 MW’s of power to this data center. I&M is part of the 13 states that belong to the PJM interconnected grid who collectively share power generation. According to IDEM and Hatchworks LLC’s permit documents, the generators on this site would be equal to less than half of the site’s ~1,200 MW total power demand, raising concerns that more generators could be added to the site in the future. Given the growing energy demand driven by data centers across these states, there is real concern about the likelihood of increased use of on-site diesel generators during “peak” demand events, when the need for electricity is the highest, such as during extreme heat. Already, another data center is trying to come to Fort Wayne, according to recent documents from AEP, adding to the possibility of higher local energy demand and an increased volume of diesel generator pollution in the community. PS - If you haven’t opposed I&M’s plan to power data centers, learn more about that plan and send a public comment now.

How Air Pollutants from Diesel Generators
Can Impact Public Health

Several schools are located within a five-mile radius of the project site. Southwick Elementary School, Prince Chapman Academy, and Paul Harding Junior High School are located within ~2 miles of the site. Other schools in a roughly five mile or less radius include: Timothy Johnson Academy, New Haven Primary School and Adams Elementary School.    

According to the Indiana Department of Health, Indiana ranks among the top states in terms of the prevalence of asthma. Approximately 1 in 9 adults (11%) in Indiana are diagnosed with asthma, and 1 in 12 children 17 years and younger (8.2%) are diagnosed with asthma.

When nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon monoxide (CO) are emitted, ground-level ozone can form, negatively impacting people’s health, especially people who are active outdoors, including workers, and people in sensitive groups such as people with asthma and other pre-existing respiratory and heart conditions, children, and seniors. (EPA Ground Level Ozone Basics & Effects)

The American Lung Association gave Allen County a “D” in their 2025 State of the Air Report. Ozone combined with weather conditions can lead to worsened air quality. According to the report, Allen County had seven days in the Orange Air Quality Index range which indicates that the air quality is “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups”.

Ambient Air Pollution (NOx, SO2, CO, PM and Ozone pollution): According to the American Academy of Pediatrics ambient air pollution is responsible for a significant public health burden of respiratory disorders in children. There is a rapidly developing evidence base supporting the role of early-life exposures (including exposures in utero) in the development of asthma and allergic disease in childhood and in reduced lung function. This reflects exposure based on home residence as well as exposure based on school proximity to roads with a high density of traffic. Long-term decrements in lung function growth have been demonstrated for pediatric cohorts both with and without asthma.

Particulate matter (PM 2.5), also known as soot, is an extremely dangerous pollutant made of a mix of metals, organic chemicals, and acidic substances. These particles are so tiny that they bypass our natural ability to expel larger particles with a cough or sneeze and can be inhaled deeply into the lungs and enter the bloodstream.

Photo of data center from Unconstrained Demand Report by VA Sierra Club: Infrastructure includes diesel generators, chillers and water storage tanks, Hugh Kenny, PEC. According to DEQ air permits,103 there are currently 8,951 generators approved in the state for data centers. Almost all of these generators are Tier 2 generators, cheaper and dirtier than best available technology. Somewhat cleaner Tier 4 diesel generators are available, but Virginia does not require them, making it unlikely that companies will install them voluntarily given their higher cost.

Click here for the details for the Nov 13 Public Hearing and Nov 17 Public Comment Deadline

Additional Pending Permits and Cases

Even if public comment deadlines have passed, we encourage you to keep contacting decision-makers until final decisions are made - call for public comment extensions, and public hearings. The amount of pending cases and permits is burdensome for the public and public advocates to be able to adequately review and provide comments on.

 CALL TO ACTION:

Tell the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to Deny Indiana Michigan Power’s Expedited Generation Resource Plan

Click here to send a Public Comment via Sierra Club: Tell the IURC to reject I&M's massive and expensive gas buildout to power Big Tech's data centers!

AI data centers have monstrous energy needs. Indiana Michigan Power is forecasting that just a handful of AI data centers coming to Northern Indiana will use more electricity by 2030 than all 6.8 million Hoosiers use in their homes today (CAC).

Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) has filed an “Expedited Generation Resource Plan” with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) seeking permission to add 3,300 MW’s of natural gas and 800 MW of renewable energy and storage to power the Google & Amazon data centers. If approved by the commission, customers can expect rate increases related to the EGR to be filed through separate cases  with state regulators. This new expedited process reduces transparency and the ability for the public to weigh-in, as a result of House Bill 1007, a new Indiana law that bolsters fossil fuels and data centers  passed by Governor Braun and state legislators. See IURC files for I&M’s EGR case here.

While the deadline for public comments to be accepted into the Office of Consumer Counselor’s record has passed (Nov 3, 2025), we encourage you to keep sending public comments until this decision is made. Send a public comment asking the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to deny Indiana Michigan Power’s Expedited Generation Resource Plan.

Protect our Wetlands, Waterways and Wildlife

American Electric Power (AEP), Indiana Michigan Power’s parent company, is requesting permission from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to build a “temporary” road over wetlands on AEP’s property at the Project Zodiac site in order to rebuild a transmission line for Google’s AI Data Center. According to 21 Alive, AEP says that without rebuilding the transmission line, the data center project can’t move forward. This wetlands permit will impact threatened and endangered species including the Indiana Bat, Northern Long-eared Bat, and Whooping Cranes; Monarch Butterflies will also be impacted (a current candidate for a threatened listing) (page 50).  

 CALL TO ACTION:

Address comments to: Project Manager Evan White, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Office of Water Quality, 100 N. Senate Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46204. Email: evwhite@idem.IN.gov l Phone: (317) 671-6698

Comments must Include the permit numbers: IDEM ID Number: 2025-741-2-EJW-WQC, Corps of Engineers ID Number: LRE-2025-00093-102-A25, click here to view the permit

On Sept 16, 2025 IDEM approved a separate permit granting Google permission to construct buildings over 2.44 acres of Class II wetlands while refusing to grant a public  hearing. This work was also approved by Allen County and the City of Fort Wayne. Class II wetlands are largely undisturbed ecosystems hosting native plants and rare, threatened or endangered wildlife, and have moderate hydrologic functions. According to Hoosier Environmental Council’s comments, the company did not adequately seek out alternatives to damaging the wetlands on the property.

Helpful Resources and Links