A quiet corner of Indianapolis may soon host an engine of the modern internet. Google is considering Franklin Township for a massive new data center campus, a potential $2 billion investment that promises significant economic rewards but raises questions about resources and community qualities.
The technology giant acquired more than 465 acres of land near the intersection of South Franklin Road and East Raymond Street. However, company officials stress the project is not yet finalized. The facility would join Google’s network of nearly two dozen data centers worldwide if approved.
But what exactly is a data center? In simple terms, it is a highly secure, warehouse-like facility that houses thousands of computer servers. These servers store and process the massive amounts of data generated by everyday online activity, from email and video streaming to cloud storage and artificial intelligence. They are the physical conduit of the digital landscape.
The proposed project, dubbed “Project Flo,” brings a complex mix of potential benefits and drawbacks for the Franklin Township community.
The most significant advantage is economic. Google’s investment represents one of the most critical capital projects in the area’s history. It would create an estimated 1,000 to 1,500 jobs during the construction phase.
Once operational, the facility would provide approximately only 50 permanent, high-wage jobs in fields like network engineering, security and electrical maintenance.
Furthermore, data centers are immense property taxpayers. Even with the tax abatements typically requested for such projects, they can generate substantial new revenue for local governments and school districts over time.
Nevertheless, the proposal is not without its concerns, primarily focused on sustainability. Data centers are notoriously energy-intensive, requiring constant power to run servers and sophisticated cooling systems to thwart overheating. This has led to worries about strain on the local power grid.
Residents’ most vocal concern, however, revolves around water usage. Data centers consume millions of gallons of water annually for cooling. In a public meeting, residents questioned the impact on local water supplies, fearing it could affect residential wells and the area’s agricultural roots.
Others worry the industrial facility will alter Franklin Township’s rural landscape, bringing increased traffic during construction and potentially spurring more rapid development.
The Indianapolis City-County Council will have the final say on rezoning and potential tax incentives, with a meeting slated for Sept. 22. As the process moves forward, the community of Franklin Township finds itself at a crossroads, balancing the promise of a major economic anchor with preserving its precious resources and identity.
The decision will likely set a precedent for how central Indiana manages the physical infrastructure of the digital and artificial intelligence era.
Contact Multi-Media & Senior Sports Reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846. Follow him on Facebook at @HorsemenSportsMedia. For more news, click here.
Noral Parham is the multi-media & senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Parham has worked with various leagues to provide a diverse perspective in sports, including the Big Ten, Big East, IHSAA, IndyCar, MLB, NHRA, NFL, NBA, WNBA, WWE and the Olympics. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
