What Can Other Communities Learn From New Carlisle’s Data Center?

Residents of New Carlisle, Indiana, including Riley Thompson and Daniel Caruso, have voiced strong opposition to the Amazon Web Services (AWS) "Project Rainier" data center, citing increased traffic, litter, and disruption to daily life during its construction and ongoing operation. The facility, a 1,200-acre AI data center cluster, is one of the world's largest operational AI data centers and is expanding in waves. Community members, supported by groups like the Citizens Action Coalition, are particularly concerned about the project's projected 2.2 gigawatts of annual energy consumption and its water usage, which is protected under a non-disclosure agreement.

Indiana Governor Mike Braun has expressed a desire for data centers to "pay their own way" regarding power costs, yet critics like Bryce Gustafson from Citizens Action Coalition argue that Indiana lacks sufficient regulations to protect consumers and the environment from potentially astronomical utility bill increases or impacts from fossil fuel expansion. Additionally, questions have been raised about the cost-benefit of tax exemptions granted to data center companies, such as AWS's 35-year Enterprise Technology Exemption, compared to the number of permanent jobs created.

The widespread community pushback led the St. Joseph County Council to reject a separate $13 billion data center proposal in December, which sought to rezone additional farmland near New Carlisle. Marcy Kauffman, president of the New Carlisle Town Council, highlighted the community's success in being heard by local government, demonstrating that residents can influence outcomes despite initial cynicism. Experts like Dr. Keith Cherkauer from Purdue University note the difficulty in assessing water usage due to companies' reluctance to disclose information, further fueling public skepticism.