Amazon files for ‘frustrating’ Hobart data center air permit, activists say
Amazon has filed an air permit application for its massive data center in Hobart, Indiana, drawing strong criticism from local residents and environmental activists. Concerns focus on the proposed 808 diesel fuel storage tanks holding over 5.46 million gallons of diesel and 782 emergency backup generators, which critics fear will significantly worsen local air quality and pose safety risks. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is currently reviewing the application.
Amazon Data Services has filed a 190-page air permit application with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) for its Hobart data center, sparking significant concern among local residents and environmental groups. The application, filed by Ramboll engineering firm on July 24, details plans for two facilities in Hobart, located at 4751 E. 61st Ave. and 6197 Colorado St.
According to the permit, the facility will include 26 buildings, 808 fuel storage tanks for over 5.46 million gallons of diesel, and a total of 782 emergency backup generators across both sites, with a combined power capacity of 2,119 megawatts. Hobart resident Angelita Soriano, who lives near the site, expressed frustration that the permit validates long-held community concerns about the project's scale and environmental impact on her and her daughters.
Environmental advocates, including Ben Inskeep of Citizens Action Coalition and Lisa Vallee of Just Transition Northwest Indiana, have criticized the reliance on diesel generators as a "dirty and inefficient way of generating power" that will contribute to local air pollution and noise. They also highlighted the potential catastrophic risks associated with storing millions of gallons of flammable fuel. An Amazon spokesperson stated that the generators are used on a limited basis, operate approximately 10 hours per year, and meet EPA emission standards. IDEM is currently reviewing the application and plans a 30-day public notice period for comments once a draft permit is developed.