NiSource announces long-term agreement with Microsoft expected to increase customer savings and support Indiana’s economic growth
Understanding the economic impact of hyperscale data centers in Northwest Indiana
The Role of Data Centers for Ancillary Business and Northwest Indiana's Technology Stack
A new era of load growth: How data centers are becoming part of our communities and energy system
Measuring datacenter energy and water use to improve Microsoft Cloud sustainability
Amazon op-ed in the South Bend Tribune speaking to local partnerships, Indiana leading the way in AI:
Research & Studies
Community Conversations
Sara DeYoung, Executive Director Jasper Economic Development Organization sits down with Heather Ennis, CEO of the NWI Forum
City of La Porte Mayor Dermody & Executive Director of the La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership, Bert Cook sits down with Heather Ennis, CEO of the NWI Forum
Hydrogeologist Megan Fleig of Peerless Midwest sits down with Heather Ennis, CEO of the NWI Forum
Energy expert Marc Oestrich of the American Capacity Project sits down with Heather Ennis, CEO of the NWI Forum
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How much sound do data centers create, and how is it regulated?
Data centers produce continuous noise from cooling equipment (chillers, cooling towers, HVAC fans) and periodic noise from backup generators during testing and outages. Cooling equipment typically produces 75–85 dBA at… Read more
Could a nearby data center affect my electricity reliability or rates?
A 2026 study by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), using a causal statistical approach, found that residential retail rates in the average state would have been about 6% higher… Read more
What environmental oversight applies to data centers in Indiana?
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is the state's environmental regulator and reviews all data center proposals for compliance with state and federal environmental laws covering air, water, and… Read more
How is wastewater managed?
Like most industrial properties, federal law regulates discharges through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). Increasingly, operators are installing on-site treatment systems that can recover 50–95% of blowdown for… Read more
How much water does a data center use, and what factors influence demand?
Water use varies by facility size, cooling technology, climate, and season. Water demand rises in summer, when higher outdoor temperatures make evaporative cooling more work. Cooling technology is the biggest… Read more
How are data centers powered?
According to the International Energy Agency, as of 2024 natural gas supplied more than 40% of electricity used by U.S. data centers, renewables (wind and solar) supplied about 24%, nuclear… Read more
How does a data center affect nearby property values?
A 2025 analysis by George Mason University's Center for Regional Analysis in Northern Virginia found that home values were actually higher closer to data centers. Real-estate professionals emphasize that outcomes… Read more
What tax revenue does a data center generate for the local community?
At the national level, the U.S. data center industry contributed an estimated $204 billion in local, state, and federal taxes in 2024. In mature markets, the numbers are substantial: Loudoun… Read more
How many jobs does a data center create, and what kind?
Data centers create thousands of jobs. The Northwest Indiana economic impact study estimates that at 1 gigawatt scale, direct construction plus regional supply-chain activity would support an average of about… Read more
What factors influence where data centers are built?
Industry site-selection guides generally identify five constraints: access to reliable electricity, redundant fiber connectivity, abundant resources, permittable land and zoning, and a receptive regulatory and community environment. Power has become… Read more
Do data centers increase local traffic?
Data centers generate minimal daily traffic compared to other industrial uses, mainly limited to employees and maintenance personnel. Construction phases may temporarily increase traffic, but operational impacts are low. As… Read more
How do data centers affect local communities?
The most detailed local estimate comes from a 2026 independent analysis by economists at Indiana University Bloomington and Capital University, which modeled a hyperscale data center campus across a seven-county… Read more
What concerns do communities commonly raise about data centers?
National polling shows that the most common concerns focus on electricity demand and water use, noise and air pollution, potential effects on bills, and traffic during construction. However, a lot… Read more
Can my smartphone work without data centers?
Your smartphone would still function as a physical device, but its "smart" capabilities would be severely crippled. Think of your phone as a powerful local computer paired with a window… Read more
What is a data center, and what happens inside one?
A data center is a facility that houses the servers, storage systems, and networking equipment that run modern digital services. Everything from email and video streaming to banking, navigation, and… Read more
Why do data centers have generators, and what are their air quality and regulatory implications?
Backup generators provide emergency power if the electric grid fails, so servers keep running and data isn't lost. Generators are tested regularly (usually monthly) so operators know they will start… Read more
How large are data centers, and what do they look like from surrounding properties?
Data centers vary in size but an average U.S. data center building is roughly the footprint of a large big-box store. Microsoft's La Porte facility, for example, is a 245,000-square-foot… Read more
What are your sources?
Forbes, "What Is A Data Center And Why Are They Suddenly Everywhere?" (2025). forbes.com Data Center University, "What's inside a data center?" (2026). datacenteruniversity.be IBM, "What Is a Data Center?"… Read more