Commission nears decision on Decatur Township data center proposal

The Metropolitan Development Commission is set to vote on a $4 billion data center proposal from Sabey Data Centers in Decatur Township, Marion County, Indiana. Unlike the defeated Franklin-Google Data Center project, this Decatur Township proposal will be decided by the MDC alone, as the land is already zoned for industrial use and does not require a full rezoning process. City-County Councilor Josh Bain believes the project will be approved, as it would generate $22 million in annual tax revenue compared to the current $16,000 the land produces. Bain says he will continue to push for protections and commitments from the company. However, the data center has faced opposition from local residents like Ashley Hooley, who are concerned about pollution, light pollution, and property value impacts. But business owners like Carl Davis, who owns a barbershop across from the site, are excited about the potential economic benefits and increased foot traffic the data center could bring.