Continued pushback on proposed Michigan City data center, Common Council delays vote on tax abatement incentives
LAPORTE COUNTY, Ind. -- The ongoing data center debate in Michigan City is in limbo once again.
The Common Council voted Monday to table resolutions on the agenda that would have given the developer of the data center, Phoenix Investors, tax abatement incentives, if approved.
If the council votes no, the developer still has the choice to move forward with the project, but without the abatement.
That decision is now delayed for a month, though.
Members of the public showed up in droves Monday night to continue voicing their disapproval of the project and all the unknown surrounding it.
“There’s a lot we don’t know, and that’s just reason enough to vote against this, this is reason enough not to vote for those resolutions," says Ashley Williams, Michigan City resident and Executive Director of Just Transition Northwest Indiana.
Ashley Williams was part of the public voices Monday night that helped sway the Common Council in delaying a vote on the proposed Michigan City data center.
“We took it as a small win in the moment because I think that was the best possible outcome we could have had in that meeting, but it’s not enough," Williams says.
Williams is not only a nearby neighbor of the project, but she's also the Executive Director of Just Transition Northwest Indiana, a grassroots environmental justice organization.
She echoes the health and ecological concerns shared by dozens of neighbors, like noise, air, and light pollution, contamination, and stripping of resources.
“Something that’s not really coming to the forefront is that in order to bring this data center online, there is so much more toxic pollution and buildup of fossil fuels that is going to be required to make this project possible," explains Williams.
State Representative Pat Boy came to the podium at Monday's meeting with her own set of questions about the project.
She shares this statement with ABC57:
“I am seeking additional information about the proposed data center in Michigan City to better understand its impact on our community. I want to ensure that residents benefit from the project, that energy and water use are managed responsibly, and that any environmental concerns are addressed. My goal is to get clear answers before forming an opinion on the proposal.”
There is an elementary school just down the street from the proposed data center site on Royal Road.
“That can have a huge impact for developing, sensitive ears, developing systems, our youngest generations from just hearing that alone," says Williams.
Williams hopes public education on the subject continues far beyond when the council makes their vote in September, in the likelihood developers move on with the project regardless, and without tax abatements.
“We are going to be able to stay proactive on top of all the other permits and things that they may need down the road, but yeah they can continue to keep building, but we can make it really difficult too," Williams says.
Some councilmembers said Monday night they want to do their own personal research and learn more about the potential impacts the data center could have on the broader Michigan City community before they make a vote next month.