Residents, parents urge Porter County officials to stop data center near Wheeler schools

Dozens of residents packed a Porter County Council meeting to oppose a proposed hyperscale data center proposed near Wheeler High School and Union Township Middle School.

The council allowed the public to comment on the data center even though it was not on the meeting agenda; residents used the opportunity to raise health, environmental and fiscal concerns and to urge county leaders to slow the process.

Why it matters: Speakers said the site, as discussed in recent meetings, is adjacent to schools and would be inside Union Township. Residents described potential long-term impacts on student health, property values, local planning and school revenue. Several asked the council to press the county commissioners — who, speakers said, hold the final authority for siting and approval — to ensure any decision is informed by updated planning documents and environmental analysis.

Parents and neighbors emphasized the schools’ proximity and the community’s lack of a modern plan. “I don’t want my kids to be the experiment,” said David Hyman, identifying himself as a…