Fort Wayne councilman asks IDEM for strict review of Google data center wetlands permit
Fort Wayne City Councilman Geoff Paddock has requested that the Indiana Department of Environmental Management apply the strictest possible standards to Google's request to fill 2.13 acres of forested wetlands for its data center expansion. Paddock cited constituent opposition and concerns about environmental disruption and the long-term impact of continued deviations from standard systems. The wetlands issue was not presented to the City Council when the property was rezoned in late 2023.
Fort Wayne City Councilman Geoff Paddock has submitted a letter to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), urging the agency to apply the "strictest possible environmental and permit review standards" for Google's proposed wetlands changes at its Fort Wayne Data Center.
Google is seeking permission to fill 2.13 acres of forested, Class II isolated wetlands to expand the operational data center, which already has additional buildings under construction in southeast Fort Wayne. The project, previously known as Project Zodiac, is estimated to be worth $2 billion.
Paddock, representing a district adjacent to the data center, noted that his constituents are in opposition to the plan, citing ongoing environmental disruption and concerns about the long-term impact of these deviations. He highlighted that the wetlands issue was not discussed with the City Council when the property was rezoned in late 2023. A public hearing on the matter is scheduled for August 25.