Google data center developer asks to fill 2 acres of wetlands in Allen County
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management is considering a permit for Hatchworks LLC, the developer of a Google data center in Allen County, to fill over two acres of wetlands. A virtual public hearing is scheduled for August 25, with written testimony accepted until August 28. Separately, the Fort Wayne City Council delayed a proposal to create an advisory group for the data center.
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is currently reviewing a permit application from Hatchworks LLC, the developer behind a planned Google data center in Allen County, Indiana. The application seeks permission to fill 2.13 acres of forested isolated wetlands as part of the data center's third construction phase.
This third phase involves the construction of three additional data center buildings and related infrastructure on the 892-acre site near Fort Wayne. IDEM has scheduled a virtual public hearing for August 25 to provide information and accept questions, with written testimony being accepted until August 28. Google previously announced a $2 billion investment for the data center project in April 2024. The developer has proposed mitigating the wetland impact by purchasing 4.26 acres of wetland mitigation bank.
Separately, the Fort Wayne City Council recently delayed a proposal to establish an advisory group for Google's data center. This marks the second delay for the advisory group, as council members stated they required more time to refine its operational structure. IDEM had previously approved other permits for the project, including one to fill 2.5 acres of wetlands last year.