13 shots pumped into Indianapolis official’s front door raises fears over violent data center opposition: 'Deeply unsettling'

Indianapolis City-County Councilman Ron Gibson's home was targeted in a terrifying attack, with 13 shots fired into his front door and a note stating "NO DATA CENTERS" left behind. The incident occurred days after Gibson publicly supported a data center project, intended in part for AI, at a Metropolitan Development Commission meeting, where he faced boos from attendees. This event is seen as the latest and potentially most extreme example of escalating opposition to data centers. A November report by the Soufan Center highlighted the rapid increase in such opposition over the past year, driven by fears of AI's job-elimination potential and the strain data centers place on local electricity and water resources. Previous incidents include a data center developer in California alleging online attacks and death threats from eco-activists, and a city council meeting in Port Washington, Wis., where police removed disruptive opponents of a data center project. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is investigating the shooting as a targeted incident. The article also notes the broader context of the data center boom, fueled by the demand for AI computing power, but also facing community backlash due to rising electricity costs, as seen in Virginia where data centers consume 26% of the state's electricity. In response to growing concerns, lawmakers in over 10 states have proposed temporary bans on data center construction, and dozens of local governments have already enacted such measures. Furthermore, Imperial Valley Computer Manufacturing, a developer planning California's largest data center, filed a lawsuit against a nonprofit, Civico del Valle, alleging attempts to stall the project for financial settlement. The Data Center Coalition indicates that developers are increasingly factoring local regulations and potential opposition into their project planning, sometimes leading them to avoid states with stringent regulatory environments.