STARKE COUNTY, Ind.-- Another data center proposal in Michiana is drawing concern from residents, many of whom fear the project could harm local wildlife, strain natural resources and worsen food insecurity.
Starke County Planning Commissioners held a public meeting Wednesday night to discuss the possibility of allowing data centers to operate in the county. Dozens of residents packed into the small meeting room, voicing concerns that they say county leaders have not fully addressed.
Some protestors focused on environmental impact, worried that a large data centers could drain local water supplies, increase electricity costs and potentially dry out ponds and wetlands that wildlife depend on.
Roy and Jessica Anderson, who joined other protesters outside the Starke County government building ahead of the meeting, said the proposal threatens the way many families survive.
“The water levels go down and we lose the water tables, all of our ponds and wetlands are going to dry out,” the Andersons said. “Most of our community are hunters — they feed their family. That’s what we have to do to survive here.”
They also raised broader concerns about poverty and food access in the county.
“Are they going to put a nice farmers market or something like that for us, where we could actually get food? Because we got problems there,” they said. “Are they going to fix our grocery stores and make more jobs with the extra money?”
Inside the meeting, county leaders said one previously interested company has already stepped away from the project.
Officials noted that a larger public hearing is scheduled for Dec. 4 at 5:30 p.m. CT, where residents will have up to three minutes each to speak directly to the board.
The Starke County Planning Commission is expected to continue reviewing the proposal before any rezoning decisions are made.