Implementation of a $7bn, nine-building data center by Amazon in Wheatfield, Indiana is advancing as the firm presented its plans. The firm presented Its plans for the data center during a recent open house at Kankakee Valley High school. In the presentation, it noted it was looking to build a campus with up to nine buildings on a 304-acre plot of land. However, the land in question is currently owned by the Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO).
The Schahfer Generating station is located half a mile away from this location. Based on current insights, NIPSCO and AWS are still in conversations regarding the project. The land is currently leased for agricultural use from the utility.
According to AWS, by locating the data center near the power plant, it would reduce costs related to infrastructure and transmission. Nonetheless, details about the project remain sparse, with discussions still ongoing. Located in Jasper County and southwest of Michigan City, Wheatfield is a small town and has a population of around 900 as per the 2020 census.
Despite advancements, data centers are facing significant pushback from the community such as the $10bn Meta data center in El Paso, Texas. El Paso District 2 city Rep. Josh Acevedo is seeking to terminate the tax break agreement the city awarded Meta Platforms Inc. The agreement was made in exchange for the tech giant developing the campus in Northeast El Paso. However, city officials are warning the termination could create massive financial risks for the city.
Outlook on the Amazon Data Center in Wheatfield
Despite the sparse details, the Amazon data center in Wheatfield is estimated to cost an investment of around $7 billion. In addition, the project would increase tax revenue for Jasper County from around $1.2 million to more than $420 million in the next 15 years. Amazon will also pay $1.25bn to reduce the energy use cost impact on local ratepayers. The data center will also use natural air cooling for around 98 percent of the year, so as to minimize water usage.
Speaking at the meeting, AWS president of economic development Roger Wehner said: “We want to go to places where people come in with eyes wide open and we can build a great partnership.” Should the project receive approval, construction is expected to begin quickly, with Wehner telling the audience: “We want to start growing with this community as soon as possible. As you can see, we’re already here. We’re already doing things. If it doesn’t work out, that’s okay, we’ll still love it. We won’t feel bad about a single thing we’ve done.”
AWS already has data centers in Northern Indiana, in New Carlisle, and is developing another in Hobart. The projects are part of a $15bn investment commitment to the area made by AWS in November 2025.
Project Factsheet:
- Project Location: Wheatfield, Indiana, USA
- The location is Wheatfield, Jasper County, Indiana, USA.
- Estimated Investment Value: ~US$7 Billion
- The project is a hyperscale data center campus (up to 9 buildings).
Timeline
- Public plans presented: 2025 (community open house)
- AWS is currently in the process of negotiating land with NIPSCO.
- Construction finish: End of 2015 (potentially soon after agreement)
- The development is linked to the AWS $15bn regional investment commitment (2025-2030 window).
Site & Scale
- Campus size: 304 acres
- Planned buildings: Up to 9 data center facilities
- Proximity to infrastructure: Schahfer Generating Station (≈0.5 miles away)
- Market advantage: access to existing markets, which can be leveraged to boost sales and market share
Key Contractors/Stakeholders
- Developer: Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- The landowner is Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO).
- The local stakeholders are Wheatfield community and Jasper County authorities.
- Proximity to power infrastructure: Schahfer Generating Station
Infrastructure Scope
- Multi-building hyperscale data center campus (up to 9 structures)
- High capacity computing infrastructure for cloud services.
- Energy efficiency and conservation measures
- Water-based cooling system for the remaining 2% of the year.
Strategic Objectives
- Add more AWS hyperscale computing capacity to the Midwest US region
- Improve latency and cloud service delivery in North America
- Improve the quality of life for residents and businesses
Current Status
- Project in planning and consultation phase
- Land acquisition/lease negotiations ongoing
- No final construction approval yet
- Community engagement process ongoing before build decision
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