Indiana Community Fights Back Against 550-Acre AI Data Center Project

According to DCD, a local opposition group called the Coalition to Protect Decatur County Against AI Data Center has launched a Change.org petition against a proposed 550-acre data center campus in Greensburg, Indiana. The petition, which has garnered more than 950 signatures, claims residents “were not properly informed” about the hyperscale data center project and cites “zero transparency” regarding community risks. The development, proposed by Jumping Bison LLC, received unanimous approval from Greensburg City Council in December for a ten-year, 60 percent real property tax abatement. The $800 million project would be built in two phases at the Business Enterprise Park along I-74, opposite Honda’s Indiana Auto Plant, though the specific developer or operator behind Jumping Bison remains unclear. This growing opposition highlights the increasing tensions between rural communities and the expanding data center industry.

The Rural Data Center Expansion Trend

What’s happening in Decatur County reflects a broader national trend where data center developers are increasingly targeting rural areas for large-scale projects. These locations offer several advantages: lower land costs, potentially cheaper energy rates, and proximity to major transportation corridors like I-74. However, rural communities often lack the regulatory frameworks and experience to properly evaluate these complex industrial developments. The transition from agricultural or light industrial land use to hyperscale computing facilities represents a dramatic shift that many local governments aren’t prepared to manage effectively. This knowledge gap frequently leads to the transparency concerns residents are expressing in their petition against the project.

The AI-Driven Power Crisis

The specific identification of this as an “AI data center” is particularly significant. Artificial intelligence computing requires substantially more power than traditional data centers, with some estimates suggesting AI workloads consume 10-20 times more electricity per rack. A project of this scale in a rural county like Decatur County could potentially strain local power infrastructure and impact electricity rates for existing residents and businesses. The $800 million investment figure suggests significant electrical infrastructure requirements that may not be immediately apparent to local officials reviewing the project through traditional economic development lenses.

Systemic Community Engagement Failures

The residents’ complaint about lack of transparency points to a common pattern in data center development. Many companies use shell entities like Jumping Bison LLC to maintain anonymity during early negotiations, preventing communities from researching the track record of the actual operator. The tax abatement approval in December, as reported by the Greensburg Daily News, appears to have proceeded without meaningful public input, creating the backlash we’re now seeing. Effective community engagement requires early and continuous dialogue, not just approval processes that meet legal minimums while failing to address legitimate community concerns.

The Economic Development Dilemma

While the Greensburg city government likely sees this project as an economic development win, the reality is more complex. Data centers create relatively few permanent jobs compared to their physical footprint and resource consumption. The 60% tax abatement means the community foregoes significant property tax revenue that might otherwise fund schools and public services. Meanwhile, the infrastructure demands—particularly water for cooling and electrical capacity—could create hidden costs that offset the projected economic benefits. Communities must weigh these factors carefully rather than being swayed by large investment figures alone.

Broader Industry Implications

The Decatur County situation serves as a warning to both communities and developers. As community coalitions become more sophisticated using tools like Change.org to organize opposition, data center companies will need to adopt more transparent approaches from project inception. The industry’s rapid expansion, particularly driven by AI computing demands, cannot continue relying on stealth tactics and last-minute revelations. Companies that engage communities early, address legitimate concerns about water usage, power consumption, and visual impact, and demonstrate genuine partnership will likely face less resistance and build more sustainable operations long-term.