Victoria Spartz calls for federal review of data centers
Congresswoman Victoria Spartz has called for a federal review of the LEAP Research, Innovation District, and other major data center projects in Indiana. Her concerns center on the state's power grid capacity and water supply, especially in Boone County where water for the LEAP District must be pipelined from other areas. Spartz suggests prioritizing development in poorer counties with existing water resources.
Congresswoman Victoria Spartz is calling for an independent federal review of the LEAP Research, Innovation District, and other significant data center developments across Indiana. Spartz, representing Indiana's 5th congressional district, sent letters to U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright and U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, with the latest communication sent on September 9.
Her primary concerns revolve around the sufficiency of the power grid to sustain these large-scale projects and the appropriateness of their locations. Specifically, she questioned the LEAP District's site in Lebanon, Boone County, noting that the area lacks adequate water resources, necessitating a pipeline from elsewhere. Spartz suggested that communities in Madison and Delaware counties, particularly within the White River watershed, should be prioritized for such manufacturing and tech campuses, arguing they are among Indiana's poorest counties in need of jobs and possess the necessary water resources. She emphasized the importance of preventing a development process that excludes these communities from benefitting. The Congresswoman is currently running for reelection against Democrat JD Ford.