Monrovia explores annexing site of future Google data center

The Monrovia Town Council in Indiana recently voted 3-2 to initiate the process of annexing a multi-hundred-acre parcel of Morgan County land, which is slated to become the site of a Google data center. This decision comes despite the data center project having already received approval from the county planning commission and board of commissioners. The annexation, if successful, would allow the Town of Monrovia to collect property taxes from Google, a benefit currently exclusive to Morgan County government. The proposed annexation faces potential pushback from Google, as noted by councilmember Philip Fowler, who voted against the measure along with councilmember Ryan Marsh, citing concerns about Google's influence. Moreover, the annexation process requires informing affected residents, who can gather signatures to block the incorporation. Meanwhile, the underlying data center project itself has generated significant local opposition. Many residents of Monrovia and Morgan County have protested its development, expressing worries about the data center's substantial energy and water consumption, potential noise pollution, and its impact on local property values. This opposition has escalated, with some residents filing a lawsuit against Morgan County.