Indiana Data Center Intel

Recent Indiana data center news

• Jan 1, 2026

  What Kentucky’s 2026 General Assembly could mean for environment, energy issues

  Louisville Public Media reports on what environmental advocates and lawmakers are expecting from Kentucky’s 2026 General Assembly regarding environment and energy issues, including fights over water protections, conservation funding, and resource-intensive data centers.

  • Main announcement/action: The article summarizes stakeholders’ priorities and concerns for the 2026 legislative session: data centers/AI-driven development will be a major focus, advocates are urging increased conservation funding (The Nature Conservancy report: Kentucky ~$2.4 million annual conservation funding vs. Indiana $11.5 million, a $9.1 million gap), and Gov. Beshear’s administration cited a need for $1.8 million annually for permit review staff under new water rules.
  • Background and concrete details: The piece documents recent policy changes and proposals: passage of Senate Bill 89 narrowing state water protections (aligned with the Trump administration/EPA proposals), calls for a PFAS working group and manufacturer disclosure, a legislatively ordered report on vehicle tires in streams, concern about possible budget cuts to the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet and Public Service Commission, and lawmakers’ comments about supporting coal and nuclear as part of energy diversification.
• Dec 30, 2025

  AI in VFX: AI Face Replacement

  Massed Compute is promoting its cloud GPU rentals for VFX and AI face replacement workloads and offering a 15% discount with coupon code MassedComputeResearch.

  • Main announcement/action: Massed Compute offers cloud GPU rentals aimed at accelerating AI face replacement and VFX model training, claiming to reduce training time from days or weeks to just a few hours; promotional 15% off coupon code MassedComputeResearch is provided for GPU rentals.
  • Background and details: The article explains common use cases (digital de-aging, stunt doubles, AI-generated actors) and cites real-world examples (The Irishman (2019), Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)). It lists desktop tools (DeepFaceLab, FaceSwap, Roop) and mobile apps (Reface, FaceApp, FaceMagic), notes typical technical requirements (powerful GPU, Python, TensorFlow/PyTorch, FFMPEG, Microsoft Visual C++), and states legal constraints: image rights and consent/contractual approvals are required.
• Dec 30, 2025

  Scorecard: Looking Back at Data Center Frontier’s 2025 Industry Predictions

  Data Center Frontier published a 2025 scorecard grading eight data center industry trends and issued verdicts on each, emphasizing that power, cooling, and utility coordination dominated what shaped the industry in 2025.

  • Main announcement: Data Center Frontier released a year-end scorecard evaluating eight core trends with graded verdicts (e.g., “VERDICT: MASSIVE HIT” for power constraints and hyperscale megacampuses; “VERDICT: STRONG HIT” for natural gas bridging supply). The article cites specific figures and deals including estimates that U.S. data center energy use could reach up to 12% of U.S. electricity by 2028 (Congressional Research Service), a reported $120+ billion of AI data center spending shifted off balance sheets (Financial Times), and Alphabet’s $4.75 billion acquisition of Intersect Power to align energy and compute deployment timelines.
  • Background and details: The piece documents operational shifts in 2025—liquid direct-to-chip cooling moved to baseline design assumptions (TrendForce: DLC adoption ~33% in 2025), natural gas and behind-the-meter generation emerged as fast-to-deploy reliability options (ExxonMobil’s 1.5-GW plant plans and CCS pairing), and quantum and immersion cooling progressed technically but remained “Too Early” for broad adoption. It also notes concrete geographic and market examples (record-low primary market vacancy at 1.6% per CBRE; secondary market growth in Central Ohio, Indiana, Louisiana, Utah, Colorado, North Carolina, Tennessee).
• Dec 29, 2025

  Amazon Data Centers Aren’t Raising Your Electric Bills—They May Be Lowering Them

  Amazon Web Services commissioned an E3 study finding its data centers generate surplus revenue and are not subsidized by other utility customers.

  • Main finding and scope: The E3 study projects $33,500/MW in surplus value in 2025 rising to $60,650/MW by 2030; for a typical 100‑MW data center this equates to $3.4 million in 2025 and ~$6.1 million in 2030. The study assessed multiple utility territories including PG&E, Dominion Energy, Entergy, and Umatilla Electric Cooperative, concluding revenues above regulated returns can fund grid modernization without shifting costs to residential ratepayers.

  • Partnerships, structures, and project details: AWS and utilities are using innovative models (e.g., NIPSCO GenCo: 3 GW investment with 2.4 GW for data centers and 600 MW reserved for grid reliability); NIPSCO projects ~$1 billion in cost savings returned as bill credits over a 15‑year duration. Other specifics include Entergy Mississippi’s $300 million Superpower Mississippi grid campaign, AWS’s >600 renewable projects (claimed to power 8.3 million U.S. homes), investments in nuclear and 11 solar-plus-battery projects, and AWS efficiency metrics (Graviton up to 60% less energy, Inferentia2 up to 50% better performance per watt, PUE 1.15 in 2024, 35% embodied carbon reduction).

• Dec 23, 2025

  AWS Scales AI Infrastructure Across Data Centers, Power, and Networks

  Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced a coordinated AI infrastructure strategy: launching AWS AI Factories for on-premises hyperscale AI deployments, a $15 billion data center expansion in Northern Indiana adding ~2.4 GW capacity, and Fastnet, a transatlantic subsea cable connecting Maryland and County Cork targeted for 2028.

  • AWS AI Factories & on-site stack: AWS will deploy a fully integrated, AWS-managed AI stack inside customer- and government-owned data centers including NVIDIA GPUs, AWS Trainium chips, low-latency networking, storage optimized for large model training/inference, and integration with Amazon Bedrock and SageMaker; AWS retains responsibility for security, systems management, and ongoing operations to meet sovereignty and compliance requirements.
  • Indiana expansion, Fastnet cable, and utility model: AWS announced a $15 billion expansion in Northern Indiana expected to add ~2.4 gigawatts of capacity and ~1,100 direct jobs, building on an earlier $11 billion investment in St. Joseph County; AWS will fund and construct required grid upgrades in coordination with NIPSCO while insulating local ratepayers, and separately plans Fastnet (320 Tbps capacity) between Maryland and County Cork targeted for 2028 with local Community Benefit Funds at landing points.
• Dec 18, 2025

  Feds Allow Big Tech to Plug Data Centers Right Into Power Plants

  The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a unanimous order allowing large tech data centers to effectively colocate and draw power directly from power plants within the PJM mid-Atlantic territory.

  • Main action: FERC’s order requires PJM Interconnection to develop rates and conditions for multiple colocation scenarios (including with new power plants and existing plants) and may allow big users to pay only for transmission services they use; it stems from a dispute over a proposed colocation between Amazon’s cloud-computing subsidiary and the owner of the Susquehanna nuclear power plant. Key names: Laura Swett (FERC chair), Chris Wright (Trump’s energy secretary). The mid-Atlantic territory covers about 65 million people.
  • Background and details: The order is pitched as protecting ratepayers while enabling rapid connections for data centers; it was welcomed by power plant owners and supported in part by Advanced Energy United, while Edison Electric Institute said it would “continue to work” on rapid connections. The decision grew from disputes between power plant owners and electric utilities, and FERC may require colocating users to pay to replace diverted energy to the broader grid.
• Dec 18, 2025

  Environmentalists and Affordability Duke It Out in New York

  New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has shifted to an affordability-focused energy agenda, approving the NESE natural gas pipeline, reversing opposition to new nuclear, streamlining permitting, and establishing a $500 million Empire AI Consortium to support power-hungry AI capacity in the state.

  • Main actions and timeline: Hochul approved the NESE natural gas pipeline (reported Nov 2025) and directed the New York Power Authority to pursue a new zero-emission advanced nuclear plant; her administration has streamlined permitting for electric power and transmission infrastructure and announced the Empire AI Consortium — a $500 million public-private partnership to advance AI/data-center capacity in New York. The NESE approval was explicitly framed by Hochul as a return to an “all-of-the-above” policy and is cited by supporters (Breakthrough Institute letter) as likely to lower regional costs and carbon by displacing heating oil.
  • Background and related developments: The House passed the SPEED Act (sponsored by Rep. Bruce Westerman) to limit NEPA reviews and expedite permitting; Diablo Canyon received a state permit to continue operating for another 20 years but still needs a final NRC license extension and state legislative approval to operate after 2030. Environmental groups (e.g., League of Conservation Voters, Food & Water Watch) criticized Hochul’s moves in reports and public statements (December 2025 LCV report; quotes from Bill McKibben and Alex Beauchamp).
• Dec 18, 2025

  Feds pave the way for Big Tech to plug data centers directly into power plants

  The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a unanimous order allowing tech companies to connect large data centers directly to power plants.

  • FERC order clears regulatory questions around “colocation” agreements and enables direct plant connections for massive energy users across the mid-Atlantic territory (~65 million people); the order could serve as a blueprint for responding to an October request from Energy Secretary Chris Wright to prioritize rapid power access for data centers and large manufacturers.
  • Background and additional details: Laura Swett called the move a “critical step” to give investors and consumers certainty; power plant owners applauded and saw share-price increases; Advanced Energy United said the order helps clarify setup options for big users, Edison Electric Institute said it would “continue to work” to support rapid data center connection while protecting ratepayers, and the Electricity Customer Alliance (Jeff Dennis) said the order addresses looming demand issues and the urgency to reform grid policy.
• Dec 17, 2025

  What is a data center used for? Are they bad for the environment?

  Indianapolis Star explains what data centers are and why Hoosiers are concerned about AI data centers.

  • Main explanation & announcement: The article defines data centers and summarizes the current Indiana situation: more than 80 data centers in Indiana (Data Center Map, as of Dec. 16, 2025), with 35 in Marion County, 16 in Fort Wayne, 13 in South Bend, 8 in Gary, and at least 24 proposed projects (Citizens Action Coalition). It references specific projects including a Google proposal withdrawn in Franklin Township (Oct. 2025) and Meta’s 700,000-square-foot AI data center in Jeffersonville (Meta said the project would have more than 1,250 workers on site at peak construction and had promised 100 permanent jobs when opened).
  • Background & supporting details: The piece reports concerns from the Citizens Action Coalition about utility cost increases, air/climate pollution, intense water consumption, and noise pollution; cites an estimate that a single AI data center can use 1 to 5 million gallons of water per day for evaporative cooling; and notes the Midwest (IL, OH, KY, MI, IN) has 592 data centers planned or operational (Data Center Map).
• Dec 16, 2025

  Southfield City Council greenlights divisive data center plan: ‘Too many unknowns’

  Metrobloks received Southfield City Council approval for a 109,683-square-foot data center on 12.19 acres that will require 100 megawatts of power and was approved by a 5-2 vote.

  • Project details and developer commitments: The site plan approval covers a 109,683-square-foot facility on 12.19 acres (east side of Inkster Road between 11 Mile Road and I-696) that will require 100 megawatts of power; the developer says the project will be built in two phases with an estimated total cost of $1.5 billion (the slide deck lists $500 million, a noted discrepancy). Metrobloks said it currently has funding for land and utility upgrades but not full capitalization and will borrow against a tenant contract once a tenant is confirmed; the facility will use a closed-loop cooling system consuming 10–20 gallons of water per day, and the developer expects ~35 permanent positions and estimated $400,000/year in property tax revenue (early estimate). The city placed conditions on approval including compliance with ordinances, minimal tree/soil removal, and inspection rights, and EGLE can enforce state environmental laws.

  • Community response, oversight, and background: The approval followed nearly six hours of public comment with majority opposition asking for a health impact study, community benefits agreement, and transparency; Councilmembers Charles Hicks and Ashanti Bland voted no (citing insufficient fact-based information and public health concerns from AI data centers referenced in the HBR article), while Coretta Houge supported the project saying the city must consider new technologies. Metrobloks (founded 2024) has not yet built a data center but cites executive experience from Amazon and Meta and lists Detroit as a strategic hub; it is targeting Indianapolis, Phoenix, Miami, and Paris for future development. Next Southfield City Council meeting noted: Jan. 5, 2026 at 6 p.m., Southfield City Hall, 26000 Evergreen Road.