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Residents raise air-quality and health concerns over data center expansion, urge IDEM hearing and moratorium
Summary
During public comment, multiple residents urged the council to seek an IDEM public hearing and consider a moratorium on data center expansion after permit filings showed plans for dozens of additional diesel backup generators; speakers cited ozone risks, health impacts, and neighborhood disruption.
Several Michigan City residents used the public-comment period on July 7 to press the council about a proposed data center expansion (Project Maze/Phoenix) and a related air-permit modification that commenters said adds dozens of backup diesel generators.
Dominic Yankee told council members a permit application with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) sought approval for 66 additional generators, bringing the total to 132 diesel backup units and increasing nitrogen-oxide emissions quoted in the permit application. Yankee and others said nitrogen oxides react to form ground-level ozone and that the city had an air-quality action day on the meeting date, urging the council to ask IDEM to hold a local public hearing on the permit modification.
Amy Lisinski and Shelly Yankee described neighborhood impacts, including traffic disruptions around the data center and health concerns for children and the elderly, and questioned whether prior council resolutions or approvals had given developers too much leeway. Steve Coyle recommended a two-year moratorium on data center expansion to allow the city time to evaluate cumulative impacts and preserve Michigan City’s “brand.”
Council members did not take immediate action but received the comments. Residents requested clearer obligations on developers, more robust local oversight of construction and traffic management, and direct engagement withIDE M about air quality.
What’s next: Commenters asked the council to request IDEM hold a public hearing locally on the permit modification and to consider policy measures such as a temporary moratorium; council staff did not announce specific next steps during the meeting.
