Rep. Spartz seeks independent federal review of Indiana data centers & LEAP
Congresswoman Victoria Spartz has requested an independent federal review of data center projects, including Meta's LEAP campus, and other major data centers across Indiana. She is concerned about their significant demands on energy generation, grid reliability, transmission costs, and water resources. Spartz seeks clarity on who will bear the costs and prevent Hoosier consumers from subsidizing private projects.
Congresswoman Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.-05) has formally requested an independent federal review of the rapidly expanding LEAP Research and Innovation District and other significant data center projects across Indiana. In a letter sent on September 9 to U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright and U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Rep. Spartz expressed grave concerns regarding energy generation, grid reliability, transmission costs, water resources, and the ultimate financial burden on taxpayers. She emphasized that Hoosiers deserve transparent answers about who will pay for the extensive infrastructure demands.
The request highlights Meta's planned $10 billion LEAP campus, which includes 10 data centers with an estimated 1 gigawatt of capacity and up to 1,200 megawatts total demand, requiring hundreds of millions in transmission infrastructure. Rep. Spartz pointed to escalating federal reliability warnings, noting MISO's reclassification to "high risk" for 2028-2031 and its use of emergency authority. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) also preliminarily found MISO's protections against shifting large-load transmission costs to be inadequate, potentially leading to "unjust and unreasonable rates" and a lack of transparency.
Beyond energy, Spartz raised concerns about significant loopholes in Indiana laws governing LEAP's development and plans to draw up to 25 million gallons of water daily from the White River watershed for Lebanon and the LEAP district. She seeks a comprehensive accounting of energy and water requirements, necessary infrastructure, associated costs, cost allocation, and protections for consumers. The review would encompass projects by Meta, Google, Amazon, and other developers across the state to prevent Hoosiers from facing higher utility bills and increased blackout risks.