LaPorte Common Council Approves expansion of Microsoft Data Center near Highway 35

LAPORTE, Ind. -- The LaPorte Common Council unanimously approved a major land annexation Monday night that will nearly triple the size of Microsoft’s planned data center campus in the city.

The annexation adds about 1,200 acres of mostly farmland east of Microsoft’s existing 500-acre site near Highway 35. Microsoft’s current property stretches from Boyd Boulevard to County Road 250.

City officials described the annexation as voluntary.

Company representatives said the newly annexed land will remain farmland until construction is completed on the original data center campus. After that, the expansion area is expected to be developed into 11 additional data center buildings.

Supporters of the project said the expansion could bring long-term economic growth and local jobs to LaPorte.

“Them being willing to locate here, I think says a lot about this area,” said David Fagan, financial secretary for the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150. “We’re seeing a long-term view of what we can do today to make La Porte better in the future.”

Fagan also said Microsoft has already taken steps to hire local workers, unlike other data center projects that relied heavily on contractors from outside the area.

“There have been data centers nearby where that wasn’t the case and they brought in contractors from all other parts of the country,” Fagan said. “We don’t see that happening here.”

Several residents, however, voiced concerns during public comment before Monday night’s vote, arguing the city is moving too quickly on the project’s expansion.

Some residents argued that the development would actually cause financial strain.

“NIPSCO is going to hit us so hard on our electricity and gas it ain’t funny,” one resident said. “It’ll be three to five times what it is now in three years.”

Others questioned how the city could hold Microsoft to their word; is they don’t commit to the community development they’ve been promoting.

“We also have to have a balance between economic development and environmental stewardship,” another resident said. “While Microsoft has some really great plans, how are we going to hold them accountable?”