Data center developer discusses multi-billion dollar project planned in Kokomo
Digital Realty is proposing a 476-acre, three-building data center campus in Kokomo that could cost $1 billion to $3 billion and consume up to 1.5 gigawatts of power. Nearby residents oppose converting farmland, while the company says it will recycle water, meet noise limits and fund needed power infrastructure.
Digital Realty is planning a 476-acre data center development near U.S. 31 and County Road 400 North in Kokomo. The proposed campus would include three buildings totaling about 3 million square feet, require four to six years to complete and represent an estimated investment of $1 billion to $3 billion. Once fully built, it could generate $44 million to $55 million in annual property tax revenue.
The Kokomo City Council recently changed its zoning ordinance to allow data centers on industrial properties, and Digital Realty is working with the city on an economic development agreement that still requires council approval. The company says the project would use a closed-loop water-recycling system, comply with city noise restrictions and pay for power-related infrastructure upgrades. However, the project could require as much as 1.5 gigawatts of electricity, prompting Citizens Action Coalition to warn that ratepayers could ultimately bear some costs.
Nearby resident Kathy Hoover opposes the development, saying it would replace farmland and industrialize the area near her home. Digital Realty executive Matt Gully said the company intends to become a long-term participant in Kokomo's economy and address concerns about water, noise and electricity demand.