Lowell data center town hall requires questions in advance

Residents of Northwest Indiana are preparing for a town hall meeting concerning "Project Shirley," a proposed data center development situated in Eagle Township near Lowell. The meeting, scheduled for Thursday at Lowell High School, will feature a 30-minute presentation followed by a 90-minute question-and-answer session. However, all questions and comments must be submitted online in advance, a requirement that has drawn criticism from community advocates. Andy Qunell of VRQ, assisting with the project, was unavailable to comment on the town hall's format. The Lake County Plan Commission previously decided to postpone a rezone vote for the project until May 20, citing the upcoming public forum as the reason. The rezone request from A1 agriculture to M1 light industrial is crucial for the development to proceed. Sentinel Data Centers, a New York-based company, initially proposed the data center in Eagle Creek Township in December, envisioning a $5 billion investment, over 2,500 construction jobs, and 250+ on-site jobs, along with an expanded county tax base. Project Shirley officials also intend to seek special exceptions for county rules on water usage and noise levels. Despite the developer's projections of economic benefits, local opposition is mounting. Lisa Vallee, organizing director for Just Transition Northwest Indiana, criticized the meeting's "inaccessible" nature and accused officials of "rubber-stamping" the project. She stated that "Community members have made it loud and clear: they don’t want another (artificial intelligence) data center in their backyards!" Vallee also referenced issues with another data center project in Michigan City, where initial promises of low pollution were contradicted by permits for numerous backup diesel generators. The project is expected to undergo multiple reviews by the Lake County Plan Commission, Lake County Council, and board of zoning appeals.