Data Center Signal is tracking 7 clips about NiSource data center developments across 1 states, including IN.
NiSource and Microsoft have signed a 20-year agreement to supply power to Microsoft's planned data center campus in La Porte, Indiana. NiSource subsidiary GenCo will provide 1,100 megawatts beginning in 2028, with Microsoft paying the full cost of generation and transmission.
NiSource announced an agreement to supply electricity to Microsoft's new data center in LaPorte, Indiana. The utility said the deal could reduce electricity costs for its customers by as much as $140 per year.
NIPSCO's draft water permit, which would allow the company to mix wastewater from a coal-fired power plant, a new gas plant, and an Amazon data center before discharging it into the Kankakee River, is facing strong opposition from Jasper County residents. Opponents cite concerns about public health, property values, and potential toxic chemical discharge. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management is currently reviewing the application and has scheduled a public hearing.
NIPSCO's parent company, NiSource, is rebranding its GenCo subsidiary. This subsidiary will be used to fund infrastructure for new data centers, representing a first-in-the-nation approach to data center funding.
Indiana has approved GenCo, a first-of-its-kind utility designed to provide electricity exclusively for data centers, aiming to protect ratepayers. This model, particularly evident in Northwest Indiana with projects like Amazon's planned data center and natural gas plants in Wheatfield, faces skepticism from residents and experts concerned about environmental impacts, air and water quality risks, and potential for increased household electricity bills. Despite the opposition, the utility model and specific associated projects have received regulatory approval.
Northwest Indiana residents testified at an online public hearing hosted by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) regarding permit changes for NIPSCO's R.M. Schahfer Generating Station in Wheatfield. Opponents voiced concerns that the proposed permit, linked to a 2.6 gigawatt gas plant in Jasper County to power Amazon's data centers, would worsen air quality and increase pollution. IDEM is reviewing comments and will issue a decision later.
Data centers in Indiana are creating massive electricity demand, comparable to entire cities. Utilities are planning new generation capacity, often relying on natural gas and fossil fuels, to power facilities for companies like Meta, Google, and Amazon. Concerns about transparency and environmental impact of these energy plans have been raised by watchdog groups.