Google Seeks Approval For 228 Backup Generators At Fort Wayne Data Center
Google has filed a new request with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to install 228 additional diesel backup generators at its Fort Wayne data center campus. This follows an earlier approval for 140 generators, and the overall project has faced scrutiny from residents regarding the scale of equipment. The proposed generators would serve as backup power during grid failures.
Google has submitted a new application to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) for permission to install 228 additional diesel generators at its data center campus located on Fort Wayne's southeast side. These generators are intended to provide backup power in the event of regional electrical grid failures and would be used primarily for required testing and emergencies, with routine testing capped at under 10 hours per year per unit.
This latest request builds upon IDEM's previous approval in April for a permit package that included 140 emergency generators, five smaller generators, numerous diesel fuel tanks, and nearly 50 cooling towers for the approximately 900-acre facility near East Tillman and Adams Center roads. Google anticipates that the expanding operations will create about 200 jobs over the coming years.
The project's considerable scale has drawn concerns from local residents. During an IDEM hearing in November, some residents voiced apprehension regarding the extensive amount of equipment proposed for the data center. It remains undecided whether another public forum will be scheduled to discuss this most recent permit request.