How data centers could add to Indiana's air pollution
News ClipIndyStar·Fort Wayne, Allen County, IN·5/11/2026
Communities and environmental activists in Indiana are expressing concerns about potential air pollution from diesel backup generators planned for new data centers by companies like Google and Amazon. Activists are advocating for better protections and calling on local governments to implement a moratorium on data center development until new regulations are established.
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Gov: Indiana Department of Environmental Management, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, local governments
Residents and environmental groups across Indiana are raising significant concerns about the potential for increased air pollution from numerous diesel backup generators planned for new data centers. The IndyStar reports on projects by Google and Amazon, highlighting that a Google data center in Fort Wayne is permitted for at least 179 diesel generators, while Amazon's facility in New Carlisle seeks permits for 234 generators.
Environmental advocate Jorge Fernandez, a teacher in Fort Wayne, has been campaigning for stronger protections at Google's Project Zodiac development, particularly after a permit modification increased the number of generators significantly. Ashley Williams, executive director of Just Transition Northwest Indiana, points to a Michigan City project, Project Maize, which will house over 60 Tier 2 diesel generators on a Brownfield site, contributing to already poor air quality. She argues that relying on such