Data centers serve as the core infrastructure for everyday services used globally, maintaining constant connectivity. The internet relies on the physical infrastructure of data center campuses, which are strategically situated worldwide. Data centers are used daily for activities such as navigating with maps, streaming entertainment, participating in online education and meetings, storing digital media, conducting information searches, ordering necessities, and connecting with family and friends.

Yes. Google has already hired local residents and is committed to expanding local hiring as the data center grows. The company partners with Ivy Tech, workforce development programs, and local organizations to provide training and certifications for technical roles. Initiatives like the STAR skilled trades program and AI fellowship help prepare residents for careers in technology and construction.

To ensure the data center is integrated into the community, Google is:

• Building long-term partnerships with local schools, nonprofits, and small businesses.
• Funding community projects in childcare, housing, parks, and neighborhood revitalization.
• Committing to ongoing community meetings and a public project website for transparency.

Google remains committed to its global goal of operating on carbon-free energy 24/7 by 2030. This applies to all Google facilities, including the Fort Wayne data center. While Indiana’s current energy mix includes fossil fuels, Google is actively working toward this goal by:

• Investing in renewable energy projects and advocating for clean energy policies.
• Partnering with Indiana Michigan Power to develop carbon-free resources and participate in demand response programs that reduce grid stress.
• Continuing to explore innovative solutions like advanced renewables, storage, and emerging technologies to offset and eventually eliminate fossil fuel use.

NDAs are standard in large-scale economic development projects. They protect sensitive business information during early negotiations, such as land acquisition, infrastructure planning, and competitive site selection. This confidentiality ensures that the company can evaluate options without market speculation or property price inflation, while allowing the city to negotiate commitments responsibly.

Rate increases are real but are not caused by the local data center. Utilities nationwide are facing rising costs that impact all customers. The cost of capital, or the interest paid on loans for big projects, has increased significantly. At the same time, the cost of critical equipment like transformers is up due to supply chain constraints, and there is intense competition for the skilled labor force needed to build and maintain the aging grid.

Google pays the same industrial tariff as other large customers and receives no discounts. Indiana Michigan Power requires:

• A long-term contract for stability,
• minimum billing at 80% of expected usage even if Google uses less than that so that all fixed costs are covered, and
• substantial collateral (approximately two years of bills) to protect other customers if Google leaves.

These measures, along with Google covering infrastructure costs, help stabilize rates and prevent costs from being shifted to residents.

The diesel generators at the Google Data Center are strictly backup power sources. They are not used for regular operations and do not run continuously to supply electricity. Their purpose is to provide emergency power during a utility outage. Generators are only operated:

• During rare power outages, and
• For short, scheduled maintenance tests required to ensure reliability.

All maintenance runs are tracked with non-resettable hour meters, and emissions remain well below permitted limits (<1% of the threshold).

Google will not switch to diesel generators during grid stress events. Instead, Google participates in demand response programs, which means the data center will lower its internal electricity consumption when the grid is under strain. This is done by temporarily reducing non-critical operations and optimizing workloads, not by running backup generators. Generators remain emergency-only for power outages and required maintenance tests.

The City of Fort Wayne’s water supply comes from the St. Joseph River, not groundwater, so depletion of groundwater is not a concern with this project. Prior to Google locating in Allen County, City Utilities analyzed the impact of the project and determined that they have the capacity needed in both supply and in the treatment facilities to serve the data center. Currently the average daily water use is 37 million gallons, and the water treatment plan capacity is 72 million gallons a day, so the system is operating at roughly half its capacity. Additionally, approximately 2 billion gallons are stored in reservoirs for emergencies, and this remains unused even during times of drought. The data center uses water for cooling, and it is recycled multiple times before being discharged to the sanitary sewer system.

No. Google pays the same standard rates and connection fees as any other customer and covers the cost of infrastructure needed to serve its site. Because large users contribute significant revenue, they actually help put downward pressure on rates by spreading fixed costs across more customers. Any future rate changes will be driven by system-wide infrastructure needs, not by the Google project.

• Adams Center Towner: https://utilities.cityoffortwayne.org/projects/adams-center-tower
• East Transmission Main: https://utilities.cityoffortwayne.org/projects/east-transmission-main/

Google’s water stewardship goal is to replenish more water than it consumes across its operations. This means for every gallon used, Google funds or implements projects that restore water to local watersheds. Examples include:

• Wetland restoration and protection to improve natural water storage and filtration.
• Aquifer recharge projects that return water to underground sources.
• Community water conservation programs, such as upgrading irrigation systems or funding efficiency improvements for local utilities.

These projects are verified and tracked to ensure measurable replenishment, focusing on areas where water scarcity is most critical.

The project does impact some wetlands, but these impacts are regulated and mitigated under state and federal law to prevent long-term environmental harm and maintain ecological balance.

• Wetland Delineation & Permits:
  • Google identified all wetlands on the property and submitted maps to IDEM (Indiana Department of Environmental Management) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
  • Permits were obtained for limited impacts to isolated wetlands and one stream relocation.
• Mitigation Requirements:
  • For every acre impacted, Google must purchase mitigation credits (often two times the impacted area) from approved wetland banks or the state’s in-lieu fee program.
  • Over 30 acres of wetlands are being preserved on-site, including the highest-quality areas.
  • Restoration work (tree planting, habitat improvements) is planned in the preserved areas.
• Environmental Protections:
  • Wetland mitigation offsets habitat loss and helps maintain water filtration, flood control, and biodiversity.
  • Public comment periods are required for future permits, ensuring transparency and those can be found online here: IDEM: Public Notices.
  • Information about IDEM wetlands regulation can be found here: IDEM: Wetlands, Lakes & Streams: Home.

There are multiple benefits, including the following:

• Support for skilled trades. Funding and support for the Skilled Trades and Readiness (STAR) program, a partnership with Ivy Tech to help increase the entry-level pipeline in the skilled trades with a focus on under-represented communities. All STAR pre-employment programs are paid training programs and offer networking opportunities to help participants move directly into jobs with Google Data Center construction sites or other local projects.
• Support for non-profits. To date, Google has provided over $500,000 in grants to non-profits in support of early childhood education, skilled trades training, and sheltering unhoused families in our community.
• Support for neighborhoods. Proceeds from the sale of land to Google is funding the Connected Neighborhoods Initiative, which awards $1 million to four neighborhood groups in 2025 and 2027. Each of the groups will work with City staff to determine the best ways to invest the $1 million in their neighborhoods.
• Job creation. The data center is creating hundreds of local jobs. During construction, the project is supporting 1,000 temporary jobs with local companies such as Shambaugh & Son, Hi Tech Electric, Hagerman Group, Brooks Construction and many more. 200 permanent, high wage jobs are expected to be supported upon completion of construction.
• Support for local government services. The data center will support necessary government services such as police and fire, education, libraries, the justice system, road construction and many others by paying taxes. Google is anticipated to be a top 20 taxpayer in the City of Fort Wayne in 2026.
• Economic development catalyst. Google may serve as a technological hub for Allen County, which can attract other businesses in the tech sector to locate and grow in the community. Economic development professionals often note that companies often prefer to locate their operations near data centers to reduce latency and enhance data access speeds.