LaPorte approves annexation of 1,000 acres for Microsoft data center expansion

The LaPorte City Council has voted to approve the annexation of roughly 1,000 acres of farmland, which will facilitate a major expansion of Microsoft's data center project in the city of LaPorte, Indiana. This decision follows Microsoft's earlier groundbreaking on a 500-acre site where six data center buildings are already under construction. With the newly annexed land, Microsoft now plans to add an additional 11 data center buildings, bringing the total number of structures to 17. City leaders stated that the annexation request came voluntarily from landowners. Microsoft has outlined benefits for the community, including local job creation, AI training programs through non-profits, and a commitment to cover infrastructure costs to prevent increases in residents' electric bills. However, LaPorte County Commissioner, Mr. Haney, expressed concern over the city's lack of direct communication with the county government regarding the purchase of land and the annexation plans. He noted that the county government only became aware of the purchase and annexation through newspaper publications, not direct notification. While acknowledging the city isn't legally required to notify the county, Haney emphasized the need for better communication, especially concerning potential impacts on shared resources like water infrastructure and broader quality-of-life issues.