Indianapolis councilman says someone fired shots at his home and left a 'No Data Centers' note

Indianapolis Councilman Ron Gibson and his 8-year-old son narrowly escaped harm when 13 shots were fired at their front door early Monday, with a note reading "No Data Centers" left on their doorstep. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, assisted by the FBI, is investigating the incident as isolated and targeted. Councilman Gibson had recently supported the Indianapolis Metropolitan Development Commission's decision to approve a rezoning petition for a data center project by developer Metrobloks in his district, a move that had faced opposition from some area residents and leaders concerned about the project's community impact. Gibson stated that the violence would not deter him from serving his district. The incident highlights growing tensions surrounding data center developments, which research fellow Jordyn Abrams from George Washington University's Program on Extremism noted have become targets for anti-tech, anti-government, and pro-environment sentiments. Concerns often revolve around the massive energy and water consumption of data centers, with consumer advocates worrying about potential increases in electric rates and depletion of water resources. The article also touches upon confidential power deals between developers and utilities, which some argue could unfairly shift costs to ratepayers.