The Hobart Indiana Data Center is located closer to Lake Michigan than most folks realize. It’s actually 12 miles as the crow flies, and 16 miles using a 100% waterway, from Deep River (Hobart) to Lake Michigan. The effect of Data Centers on the Great Lakes is an important issue that should be looked into. The Great Lakes Region is undergoing one of the most dramatic structural shifts in electricity demand it’s seen in decades, driven almost entirely by the rapid expansion of Data Centers.
In January 2026, the Center of Economic & Policy Studies at the University of Virginia published a lengthy, fact-based report titled Economic, Fiscal, and Energy-related Impacts of Data Centers in the Great Lakes Region. This report is 135 pages long, but here are some excerpts that should peak some interest in the impact of Data Centers on the Great Lakes. Since Hobart Indiana Data Center is within the Great Lakes Region, we felt is pertinent to reveal some of the key points exposed in the report.
“The Great Lakes region now hosts nearly one-fifth of all U.S. data center facilities, with growth expected to exceed national averages through the end of the decade. Using detailed S&P Global facility data, this report provides the first unified regional assessment of location patterns, energy requirements, and economic impacts across the eight Great Lakes states.”
“In states such as Illinois, Ohio, Minnesota, and Indiana, there will be steep increases, and in some states data centers are projected to account for 20–40% of statewide electricity consumption by 2040 in the average scenario,” the report continues.
“The combination of affordable land, improving grid infrastructure, favorable climates, and proximity to major urban markets has positioned the Great Lakes area as a national hub for data center development. As these facilities grow in number, size, and energy intensity, state and local governments face complex questions related to infrastructure adequacy, environmental sustainability, fiscal exposure, and long-term competitiveness. Understanding the geographic distribution, energy dynamics, and economic implications of this sector has therefore become essential for shaping effective regional strategies and supporting evidence-based policymaking. This issue is especially consequential for the Great Lakes region as its environmental and economic identity is tied to one of the world’s largest freshwater systems. Because data centers can exert direct pressures on water resources through cooling demands and indirect pressures through their reliance on water-intensive electricity generation, understanding their growth trajectory is vital for safeguarding long-term water sustainability and regional resilience.”
“Despite meaningful improvements in energy efficiency, particularly the decline in average PUE values for newly built facilities, absolute electricity demand continues to rise sharply because data centers are becoming larger, denser, and more technologically complex. Gains in efficiency are consistently outpaced by increases in computational requirements and the escalation of AI-related workloads.
The installed electrical capacity of data centers in the region has expanded exponentially, doubling every four to seven years, with projected installed requirements reaching 8.9 GW by 2030. This reflects not only the growth in the number of facilities but also the transition toward power-intensive hyperscale and wholesale typologies. These facilities increasingly resemble large industrial consumers—on par with steel mills or chemical plants—rather than traditional commercial customers.”
“Since 2005, installed capacity in the Great Lakes Region has doubled roughly every five years and is projected to reach 8.9 GW by 2030. Growth in construction far outpaces grid upgrades: facilities can be built within 2 years, while substations, transmission lines, and generation assets typically take much longer. Based on regional projections, data center electricity demand is estimated at more than 70 TWh in 2030, rising dramatically thereafter. Under the average scenario, total demand reaches 230 TWh by 2040, representing 21% of all electricity consumed in the Great Lakes region. By 2050, this could rise to 35%, depending on the trajectory of AI-related workloads and siting decisions.”
This report also states that local governments need to “evaluate local sitting authority and local impact disclosures. Local governments need to be able to request detailed information about water use, cooling methods, noise levels, diesel generator emissions, storm water runoff, and traffic impacts before considering data center permits. This empowers communities to make informed land-use decisions and prevents costly infrastructure conflicts after construction begins.” (page 110)
Environmental impacts beyond electricity consumption — especially those related to air emissions from backup generation and water use associated with cooling systems — require more detailed evaluation; facility-level data; and regulatory coordination. Emissions from diesel generators or water withdrawals need more evaluation, as well as evaluation of cumulative impacts on local air sheds or aquifers needs further investigation (beyond what’s in this report.)
Even though Virginia isn’t even close to the Great Lakes, that University of Virginia was able to take local Data Center Information and apply it to the Great Lakes Region.
Here’s the University of Virginia Link
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT AN ENDANGERED SPECIES COMPLAINT TO THE State of Indiana
HERE’S MORE RESEARCH LINKS:
NEW 2/25/16 The Hill:
Data Centers associated with Lung Disease
The report was compiled by Community & Environmental Defense Services (CEDS) founder and president Richard Klein, who has been working in development-related concerns for 40 years. Klein found that a single Data Center could pose negative health risks for people living at least 0.6 miles away, sometimes further.
Klein said air pollution risks come from data centers emitting nitrogen dioxide and tiny, inhalable particles that can harm people’s lungs. According to the National Institute of Health, the particles cause between 100,000 and 200,000 premature deaths each year.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE:
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5755114-data-centers-air-pollution-lung-issues-report/
5/27/25 National Library of Medicine
Data Centers Generate Significant
Noise, Air, Water, and Light Pollution
Data centers generate significant noise pollution, air pollution, water pollution, and light pollution primarily from diesel generators and Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems. A recent model indicates that the U.S. data centers in 2030 could contribute to nearly 1300 deaths annually, resulting in a public health burden of more than $20 billion. To protect communities, policymakers and industry must proactively mitigate these health risks. Key strategies include: (i) Power data centers with renewable sources and replace diesel generators with battery storage or fuel cells to eliminate exhaust emissions. (ii) Use advanced cooling technologies to reduce water use and recycle waste heat, alleviating local water scarcity and enhancing energy efficiency. (iii) Mandate public reporting of data center pollution.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12273412/
VIRGINIA’S DATA CENTERS GROUNDBREAKING
STUDY REVEALS THE SHOCKING TRUTH
Uncover the alarming Health Implications of Virginia’s Data Center boom! A groundbreaking study reveals the shocking truth:
This paper, to the best of our knowledge, is the first-of-its-kind assessment of the potential health implications associated with data centers.
When they assessed the health risks associated with data centersthey found air pollution, extensive water use, noise pollution, and detrimental land use’s risk of disrupting natural ecosystems and community well-being.
AIR POLLUTION:
Diesel generator’s harmful pollutants like Sulfur Dioxide, Nitrogen Oxide (NO2), Carbon Dioxide (CO2) particulate matter (PM), and Carbon Monoxide are linked to serious health harms including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, various cancers, neurological disorders, and conditions such as stroke, dementia, diabetes, and childhood asthma
WATER POLLUTION:
Virginia’s Data Centers have weakend the water supply, and further worsens health risks, where drought conditions leads to stagnant, warm environments that promote the growth of pathogens, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases such as diarrheal illnesses, eye and ear infections, and E. coli, among others.
NOISE POLLUTION:
The health impacts of noise pollution include long-term risks such as heart disease, permanent hearing loss, and tinnitus; chronic effects such as hypertension and endocrine disruption; and acute effects like decreased sleep quality and temporary hearing changes.
Noise pollution has also been linked with an increase in mental health concerns, such as stress-related disorders and increased annoyance, particularly in sensitive individuals. Past research has shown that noise pollution is particularly concerning for children, as exposure can lead to poor cognition
Studies have found that children in noisy environments, defined by the U. S. EPA as chronic exposure above 55 dBA (day–night average), exhibit poor school performance, increased stress, and behavioral issues, with noise pollution also being linked to decreased learning, lower reading comprehension, and concentration deficits.
CONTINUE READING . . .
https://frontiersin.org/journals/climate/articles/10.3389/fclim.2026.1648912/full
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Susie Young Baxter, CEO, has published PanoramaNOW Magazine for 31 years. Her hobbies are Camping, Boating, Hiking, Nature, Gardening and Outdoor Activities. She is an Artist, Graphic Designer, an Avid Seamstress, Dabbles in Homemade Crafts and Landscaping. Since her Father was a Health Teacher, she also likes homeopathic Health Solutions. Since blogging started over 10 years ago, PanoramaNow has been added to Newsbreak – a national news affiliate.
