Jefferson County Data Center Sparks Community Debate
A massive hyperscale data center is planned for Jefferson County, Indiana, on a 549-acre site near the Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge, raising environmental concerns. The project, classified as industrial warehousing due to undefined data center zoning rules, received an Improvement Location Permit without public notice, sparking a public appeal and an upcoming community hearing. Residents are concerned about the facility's immense electricity and water demands.
A significant hyperscale data center project is slated for development on the 549-acre former Jefferson Proving Grounds in Jefferson County, Indiana. The facility, projected to be the world's second-largest, will encompass nine buildings totaling 7.1 million square feet, comparable in size to 120 football fields. Its proximity to the Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge has ignited serious environmental concerns.
The project leverages existing Jefferson County zoning rules, which lack a specific definition for data centers, allowing officials to classify the development as industrial warehousing. This classification facilitated the issuance of an Improvement Location Permit on February 25, 2026, without the need for public notice. This procedural bypass has sparked widespread public appeal.
A public hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 5:00 PM at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Madison, Indiana. This hearing will provide the community an opportunity to voice their concerns. The controversy centers on the data center's enormous operational demands, specifically its massive consumption of electricity to power servers and water for cooling, a usage pattern likened to that of a small town.
Comments regarding the project can also be submitted in advance via email to taylor.baulac@jeffersoncounty.in.gov or by phone at 812-274-3928, according to reporter Cheryl Damon-Greiner.