Data Centers

Indiana has seen a large uptick in data centers and proposed data centers in our state. 

We are concerned about the impact this has on communities, energy and water resources, utility bills, and air quality in Indiana.

Actions you can take

  • Follow and support local communities pushing back on data center growth:

Protect Martindale-Brightwood on Facebook
Fort Wayne Data Center Factsheet + Upcoming Opportunities 
Just Transition Northwest Indiana

Resources

Our work on data centers in Indiana

Five people stood outdoors in a small neighborhood park. One person is standing forward of the others and is speaking through a microphone. There is a sign on the microphone stand saying NO data center. The other people in the photo are all holding signs too. There area few trees in the background which have shed their leaves. The sky is blue.
Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Senior Organizer, Megan Anderson, spoke alongside coalition partners Elizabeth Gore, Chairperson of the Martindale-Brightwood Environmental Justice Collaborative, Immanuel Ivey, One Voice board member, Cierra Johnson, vice president of One Voice Martindale Brightwood, and Carrie Harris at a press conference for Protect Martindale-Brightwood Neighborhood Coalition opposing the proposed MetroBloks data center. Photo: Colleen Curtin.


January 12, 2025: Sierra Club was part of a protest with fellow community members showing up to protect Eagle Creek. A Meta data center would reportedly use eight million gallons of water each day at the LEAP industrial complex in Lebanon. Citizens Energy Group plans to send water from Eagle Creek Reservoir to the developing LEAP District. Our Outreach Coordinator, Colleen, is quoted in this article: Eagle Creek neighbors protest Citizens Energy plan to draw more water from reservoir (WISH TV).

December 19, 2025: Wetlands Protect Our Water. You Can Protect Wetlands — blog from volunteer Nicole Snider

December 17, 2025: Wait, I use AI every day? I didn’t know!! — The Hoosier Data Center Industry Blog Series from volunteer Jennifer Ehara (Part V: Okay, I’m Convinced, but Can I Make a Difference?)

December 15, 2025: Open letter calling on Big Tech executives to stay true to their climate commitments and power their data centers with clean energy

December 10, 2025: Wait, I use AI every day? I didn’t know!! — The Hoosier Data Center Industry Blog Series from volunteer Jennifer Ehara (Part IV: The Environmental Impact of Hoosier Data Centers)

December 3, 2025: Wait, I use AI every day? I didn’t know!! — The Hoosier Data Center Industry Blog Series from volunteer Jennifer Ehara (Part III: Cooling Thirsty Data Centers)

November 26, 2025: Wait, I use AI every day? I didn’t know!! — The Hoosier Data Center Industry Blog Series from volunteer Jennifer Ehara (Part II: Powering a Data Center)

November 20, 2025: Fort Wayne Community Pushes Back on Data Center Growth — blog from volunteer Nicole Snider 

November 19, 2025: Wait, I use AI every day? I didn’t know!! — The Hoosier Data Center Industry Blog Series from volunteer Jennifer Ehara (Part I: Web Searches and the Data Center)

November 17, 2025: Indiana Beyond Coal and the Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter joined Protect Martindale-Brightwood to oppose MetroBlok’s AI data center and the 30+ diesel generators it would operate in a residential area in Martindale Brightwood, the heart of the city! (Facebook)

September 19, 2025: Hoosier Chapter letter to the Indianapolis City-County Council in opposition to the Franklin Township Data Center 

Further reading

Sierra Club’s Demanding Better report (September 2024)