News
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*** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ***
OFFICIAL STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO IDEM’S APPROVAL OF GOOGLE’S AIR PERMITSOn behalf of all who have been fighting against this decision for many months, we are disgusted and furious that IDEM has come to this conclusion — government institutions are meant to protect the people, not the interests of corporations.
The fate of innocent people and families, human beings who simply have the misfortune of building their lives next to what was once agricultural land, are at risk. The workers currently onsite during this multi-year construction project, as well as any future in-person employees will also be deeply affected by this decision. While our children, the elderly, the disabled; the immunocompromised; people with asthma, respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease, and COPD are most at risk for adverse health impacts, make no mistake – this is violence against all forms of life.
Premature death is a proven consequence of exposure to diesel exhaust air pollution – this has been well documented by international and national scientific research institutions. Despite this, Google has made the conscious decision to ignore the human health impact and utilize diesel-fueled generators as an energy source.Google continues to claim that their generators will be emergency use only and because of this, none of diesel-fueled generators on site – current or approved in this decision – require any pollution or emissions controls. Absolutely none. Google voluntarily agreed to not exceed a limit of 250 tons/year of NOx (nitrogen oxides) pollution, however, basic calculations show that the generators easily exceed those limits well within the 100 hours of time they have been allowed to operate by the EPA.
In the people’s appeals to IDEM, we demanded that Google be held to the highest standards and utilize the best available technologies. Research has shown that Tier 4F generators reduce harmful exhaust and soot emissions by 90% — this technology exists and would significantly reduce the potential harm. However, IDEM has chosen not to hold Google to the highest possible standards and so far Google, one of the top global megacorporations whose value currently sits at $3.8 trillion dollars, refuses to install the best available technology and retrofit their equipment with pollution controls. Instead, the diesel exhaust smoke and soot is free to permeate our air and coat our lungs. The people of Allen County should be outraged.
IDEM has failed to prevent Google from destroying and permanently altering our wetlands and waterways; now they are allowing Google to pollute our air. Our federal and state leaders and lawmakers have failed to install legislative protections against this kind of deceptive corporate exploitation. Mayor Sharon Tucker, Greater Fort Wayne Inc., the Fort Wayne Economic Development Commission, the Fort Wayne Redevelopment Commission, County Commissioners, City Council, and other local bodies and individuals have failed to protect the residents of Allen County through their refusal to demand better from Google.
Do not let them forget what they have done to us and what they have stolen from us. It is critical to continue using your power to vote and protest – we must put the right people in positions of power. Support candidates that champion people over profits, will demand legislative oversight, and will work to end the reign of corporations and special interest groups. We all deserve representatives who will fight for us, and we cannot stop fighting for a better future.
Sign the petition and share your thoughts with Mayor Sharon Tucker: www.openpetition.org/protectallencounty
Signed,
Concerned Residents with Protect Allen County, Liveable Fort Wayne, and Fort Wayne Data Center ActionFind us & resources at: www.fwdatacenteraction.wordpress.com
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IMMEDIATE CALL TO ACTION — On March 13, 2026, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) released a Public Notice regarding Google’s latest expansion request for their data center campus in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Phase III of Google’s Project Zodiac seeks to add three additional buildings in addition to other infrastructure.
According to reporting by Tom Powell from 21Alive News, “We’re talking more than 867,000 square feet total. If all three buildings were the same size, they would each be the size of a large IKEA store just like the one down in Fishers.”
To make room for the buildings, Google intends to destroy and permanently impact local waterways like Adams Ditch and long-standing, naturally occurring, biodiverse wetlands.
“A stream cannot simply be replaced on a different portion on the Google property. The microscopic makeup of soil (or nutrient-depleted dirt) cannot simply be hauled in from elsewhere and support the biological system of this area,” she said through email. “Plants, insects and animals will all be impacted. Even small changes can have outsized impacts to an ecosystem and to the watershed downstream.” — Kimberly Koczan, resiliency coordinator with Earth Charter Indiana
“Those two types of wetlands have different foliage and vegetation, wildlife, environmental needs and impact, hydrology and key functions,” she said through email. “Established, naturally occurring wetlands are self-sustaining ecosystems that provide food and shelter for much needed biodiversity as well as flood control. Google’s proposed man-made, constructed wetlands are a sad excuse and pitiful attempt to recreate what they intend to destroy, and those manufactured wetlands will never perform to the level of long-established natural wetlands.” — Danielle Doepke, local opponent of the Google data center
IDEM is now accepting public comments on Google’s proposal through Friday, April 3, 2026. We must demand a public hearing. According to the Public Notice, “Only comments or information related to water quality or potential impacts of the project on water quality can be considered by IDEM in the water quality certification review process. The request should also state the reason for the public hearing as specifically as possible to assist IDEM in determining whether a public hearing is warranted.”
Email your comments to WaterwaysComments@idem.IN.gov with the IDEM Permit Number WQC001454 in the subject line.
We cannot allow precious land to be used and abused and on the backs of our neighbors. We are talking massive drain on resources including water, power, environment, and residents' wallets. This brings nothing positive to the community. The jobs created are in fact TEMPORARY as it only takes about 40-100 ppl to run it and I've heard that's high! The fact that we have all been lied to about the cost and generators needed, but We the Residents didn't even know about this until terms were already agreed upon?! This is a grave miscarriage of leadership and representation. Think of not only the future little hoosiers that are growing and have yet to be born and financial status of the voters that elected you. You all have allowed them tax deductions as well?! Get out of here!! How is this HELPING the community?! This has to be a joke! We don't do that here.