Fort Wayne residents gather to oppose Google data center expansion
Residents near Google’s data center in Fort Wayne gathered to oppose a permit application for 228 additional diesel generators and raise concerns about wetlands, air pollution, noise, traffic and property impacts. The Protect Allen County Coalition is also criticizing local officials after the Fort Wayne City Council rejected proposals for a data center moratorium and a local review commission.
The Protect Allen County Coalition hosted a community gathering near Google’s data center on Adams Center Road in Fort Wayne in response to the company’s request to add 228 diesel generators. Organizer Danielle Doepke said residents are concerned about air pollution, noise, truck traffic, construction impacts, wetland destruction and a lack of communication from Google and public officials.
Homeowners Sue and Barry Dibble and neighbor Amanda Scheitlin described disruptions including cranes, nighttime lights and humming, unstable lawns, heavy dump-truck traffic and concerns about respiratory health and environmental damage. Coalition members also discussed efforts to address the project through a data center moratorium and a local review commission, but Doepke said both proposals were recently rejected by a majority of the Fort Wayne City Council. Residents continue to organize while seeking greater accountability and environmental safeguards from Google.