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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-20-2026 Utilities Committee MinutesOFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK BIANCA L. T IRADO, CIT Y CLERK UTILITIES Committee Members Present: Committee Members Absent: Other Council Present: Others Present: Presenters: Agenda: AUGUST 20, 2026, 6:00 P.M. Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers, Sheila Niezgodski, Sharon McBride, Dr. Oliver Davis, Joseph Mayer, Dr. Doris McEwen, Rachel Tomas Morgan, Sherry Bolden- Simpson None Canneth Lee Bianca L. Tirado, Matthew Neal, Veronica Pitt-Payne, Bob Palmer Demaree Collier*, Lina Wu*, Dr. Karl Perusich, Ben Inskeep* Presentation -Beck's Lake Environmental Restrictive Covenant Presentation -Close Loop Systems & Data Centers -What is it and how does it work? Presentation -Impact of Data Centers & Communities Responses Committee Questions & Public Comment - Beck's Lake Committee Questions & Public Comment - Data Centers Members marked with an asterisk(*) are in virtual attendance. Please note the attached link for the meeting recording: https://docs.southbendin.gov/WebLink/0/fol/409263/Rowl.aspx Jasmine Jackson CHIEF D EPCTY CITY CLERK / CHIEF OF ST:\FF INTEGRITY I SERVICE I ACCESSIBILITY Matthew eal D EPL"TY CITY CLERK / DIRECTOR OF POLICY Veronica Pitt-Payne DIRECTOR OF SPECl:\L PROJECTS EXCELLENC E I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall I215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.9173 I www.southbendin.gov ® CTIY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK Committee Chair Sherry Bolden-Simpson called to order the Utilities Committee meeting at 6:00 P.M. She gave opening remarks introducing the meeting topics and presenters. Presentation -Beck's Lake Environmental Restrictive Covenant Demaree Collier, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Project Manager, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60604, presented on the Beck's Lake Superfund site and environmental restrictive covenant. She noted that the EPA plans to host a public availability session in the upcoming months to allow for a more in-depth presentation and detailed questions. She asked that any specific questions or concerns be submitted to her colleague, Lena Wu, in advance. She described Beck's Lake as a former landfill located approximately two (2) miles west of the St. Joseph River. The lake itself and the surrounding forty ( 40)-acre park make up the LaSalle Park area. She explained that contamination from industrial waste and construction materials remained at the site after LaSalle Park was converted to recreational use. The site was listed on the EPA's National Priorities List in 2013, indicating it poses a substantial risk to human health and the environment. Demaree Collier described the EPA's remediation approach. She stated that a focused remedial investigation began in 2016, during which the EPA defined the nature and extent of contamination within the park boundary and collected soil samples from nearby residential properties. A supplemental investigation was conducted to determine how far the waste extended. A time- critical removal action was then performed to remediate the park itself and two (2) nearby homes. A clean soil cap was installed, and the park was reseeded and sodded. She explained that an environmental restrictive covenant was put in place to set limitations on certain activities within the park in order to protect the clean soil cap and prevent residents from coming into contact with contaminated soil underneath. Demaree Collier explained the findings of the EPA investigation. Lead and arsenic were found in the park soil, and arsenic was found in the groundwater. Residential sampling identified two (2) homes with soil contamination exceeding the cleanup level of four-hundred ( 400) parts per million lead and sixty-eight (68) parts per million arsenic. No waste material was found outside of park boundaries. She explained what actions were taken based on the level of contamination that was found. In areas of the park where lead levels exceeded one-thousand-two-hundred (1 ,200) milligrams per kilogram, the soil was removed, backfilled with clean soil, and capped with two (2) feet of clean cover. In areas of the park where lead levels were between four-hundred ( 400) and one-thousand-two-hundred (1 ,200) milligrams per kilogram, the soil was left in place and capped. In the residential area, soil containing lead exceeding four-hundred ( 400) parts per million was removed and replaced with clean soil. Demaree Collier confirmed that the removal action and soil capping eliminated any immediate risk to the public from direct contact with contaminated soil. She stated that the two (2) remediated homes also no longer pose a risk. She elaborated on the actions prohibited by the restrictive covenant, which include drilling into the soil cap, drawing from wells beneath the park, and community gardening within the park. She stated that work at the site is not yet complete, EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERME NT 300 City Hall I 215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.9173 1 www.southbendin.gov ~ ~ CITY OF SOUTII BEND I OFFICE OF THE CIT Y CLERK and the EPA is conducting a review to determine whether any additional remediation is needed. A new lead directive issued in 2025 lowered the residential cleanup level from four-hundred ( 400) to two-hundred (200) parts per million. She noted that there is a possibility that additional homes will need to be remediated under the new standard. Once all data is gathered, the EPA will issue a record of decision recommending final cleanup actions. After that decision is implemented, the EPA may consider delisting the site. Presentation -Close Loop Systems & Data Centers -What is it and how does it work? Dr. Karl Perusich, Purdue University College of Electrical Engineering Professor Emeritus, 1519 Stanmore Court, South Bend, IN 46614, presented on open loop and closed loop systems. He explained that a system consists of inputs, a process, and outputs. In an open loop system, resources are used once, become part of the product or waste, and cannot be recovered. He gave the example of gasoline in an automobile. In a closed loop system, at least one (1) resource can be reused. He gave the example of oil in an engine; while it may degrade or require replenishment over time, the same oil is used by the system repeatedly. He noted that the goal of engineering design is generally to use closed loop systems when possible, since reusing a resource reduces cost and can simplify system operation. Dr. Perusich applied these concepts to data centers. Inputs to a data center are electricity and data; the process is the transformation or storage of data; and the primary outputs are processed data and waste heat. Water is typically used to cool the electronics. In an open loop data center, fresh water is continuously pumped in to cool the system and then discharged or fully evaporated. In a partial closed loop system, some of the cooling water is recirculated and cooled before reuse, but additional water must still be added to replace losses. A full y closed loop system fills the cooling circuit once and requires only periodic topping off due to minor losses. He noted that in practice, most systems fall somewhere in between, and closed loop systems generally require more electricity to operate than open loop systems. Presentation -Impact of Data Centers & Communities Responses Ben Inskeep, Citizens Action Coalition, 1915 West 18th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, presented on the impacts of data centers and potential policy considerations for local governments. He described Citizens Action Coalition's mission as a consumer and environmental advocacy organization. He outlined the three (3) key points of his presentation: first (1 st), hyperscale data centers have significant impacts on the communities and environments where they are built; second (2nd), there is little policy framework in place to regulate data center development; and third (3rd), a moratorium is one (l) policy tool that would give City time to review and update its existing policies before any new data center proposals are considered. Ben Inskeep explained that most community concerns about data centers are related to hyperscale data centers. He said these facilities are primarily being developed by companies such as Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon to provide computing capacity for artificial intelligence (AI). These facilities are much larger and more energy intensive than the smaller data centers that have been EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall I215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.9173 1 www.southbendin.gov ® CITY OF SOUTII BEND I OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK around for decades. He stated that Indiana has become an emerging data center market due to several factors including its favorable legislative and regulatory environment, fifty (50)-year sales tax exemption, existing high-voltage transmission infrastructure, natural gas pipelines, fiber optic cable network, transportation corridors, proximity to large population centers, and relatively low risk of wildfires, hurricanes, and other natural disasters compared to other states. Ben Inskeep spoke about the potential impacts of hyperscale data centers. He noted that their use of energy derived from fossil fuels contributes to air pollution and climate change. He stated that noise from these facilities can reach fifty-five (55) to seventy (70) decibels at property boundaries. He spoke about land use and the conversion of farmland and wetlands for data center development. Utility-related concerns included rate increases and grid reliability. The use of tax incentives, abatements, and non-disclosure agreements have raised governance and transparency concerns. The impact on property values, heat island effects, and the rising cost of consumer electronics were also listed as concerns. Ben Inskeep elaborated on the issues of water and power. He stated that the peak electricity demand of the Amazon Web Services (A WS) facility in New Carlisle, Indiana will exceed two- thousand (2,000) megawatts when it is fully built out. In comparison to other large-scale industrial users, this would make it the single largest user on the grid. He noted that the electricity demand of closed-loop cooling systems can result in significant indirect water consumption, even if on- site water consumption is low. He also noted that the A WS site plans include approximately nine- hundred (900) backup diesel generators, over two-thousand (2,000) megawatts of backup power capacity, and six million (6,000,000) gallons of diesel fuel stored on site. He discussed water pollution risks, citing a recent case involving a Meta data center in Wyoming. Although wastewater pretreatment is required for specific pollutants, there is no requirement to remove per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). He raised the possibility of other unknown pollutants, citing a general lack of transparency around wastewater composition. Ben Inskeep then outlined potential local policy considerations, including zoning restrictions to keep data centers away from residential areas, noise ordinances with meaningful penalties, setbacks and screening requirements, and site decommissioning standards. He said it is within the purview of local government to implement transparency and disclosure policies covering energy use, water use, and wastewater composition. He recommended the AI Now Institute's North Star Data Center Policy Toolkit as a resource. He concluded by stating that a moratorium need not be anti-data center, and they can simply be used as a way to ensure that existing ordinances are adequately protective before new proposals are filed. He noted examples from Hancock County and Marion County of communities establishing citizen advisory committees to help draft or update data center ordinances. Committee Questions & Public Comment -Beck's Lake Committee Chair Bolden-Simpson invited questions from the Committee on the topic of Beck's Lake. Committee Member Sharon McBride spoke about growing up on Beck's Lake and her family 's EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall I215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.9173 1 www.southbendin.gov ® CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICEOFTHECITYCLERK history in the neighborhood. She expressed gratitude toward the EPA for providing a status update for the public record. She acknowledged that while more work remains, significant progress has been made to remediate the harms that the community has long been concerned about. Committee Member Dr. Oliver Davis thanked Demaree Collier for the update and noted that he sent her a document with historical records of the site. He stated that he has been involved in the site's remediation process since 2013. He asked Ms. Collier to explain what led to the new 2025 lead directive and what the key differences are between that directive and the prior standard. Demaree Collier explained that the 2025 directive was spurred by new information based on children's blood lead levels. The previously acceptable blood lead threshold of ten ( I 0) micrograms per liter was reduced by half to five (5) micrograms per liter. She explained that the change altered the formula used to determine cleanup numbers, and the standard residential cleanup level for lead dropped from four hundred (400) parts per million to two hundred (200) parts per million. She said the EPA will evaluate existing residential sampling data against the new two hundred (200) parts per million threshold to determine whether additional homes require remediation. Committee Member Dr. Davis acknowledged that EPA standards have evolved over time as new information has emerged and that the 2025 standards may require revisiting previously remediated sites. He said as a social worker, he is particularly glad to see standards updated to better protect children. Committee Member Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers asked what the EPA plans to do at Beck's Lake that has not already been done. Demaree Collier replied that the EPA does not know yet, and they are reviewing existing data to determine what additional work, if any, is required. She stated that the immediate risk from direct soil contact has been eliminated through the time-critical removal action. The EPA is now evaluating what remains, including whether additional sampling data is needed and whether any homes require cleanup under the new lead standard, before issuing a record of decision. Committee Member Gooden-Rodgers asked what the next tangible step will be. Demaree Collier said the EPA has received one (1) of two (2) expected reports from the responsible parties. She explained that these reports will outline the remedial action objectives, and the EPA will determine what further actions are needed to achieve these objectives. Committee Member Gooden-Rodgers asked whether there will be new information or if future meetings would continue to cover the same information. Demaree Collier said they are planning to hold a meeting in a few months to provide community members with more detailed and precise information. Lina Wu, EPA Community Involvement Coordinator, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60604, elaborated on the upcoming public availability session. She said it will include an informational presentation and one (1)-on-one (1) sessions where community members can sit down with EPA staff to discuss their concerns about the site. EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall I215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.91731 www.southbendin.gov @ CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK Council President Canneth Lee acknowledged that two (2) residential properties required remediation, which is now complete, and that the covenant was put in place to prevent the disturbance ofremediated soil. He asked for confirmation that the site is safe for community use. Demaree Collier confirmed that LaSalle Park is safe for recreational use, since it has been remediated and has a clean cover. She said there is no imminent threat, but the EPA will be evaluating and possibly remediating additional homes under the new lead standard. She added that the EPA will also continue monitoring groundwater, even though groundwater in the area is not used for drinking water. Council President Lee asked for confirmation that the covenant only applies to the park itself, that only two (2) homes required remediation, and that residents can be assured that the area is safe. Demaree Collier confirmed that is correct. Committee Vice Chair Rachel Tomas Morgan thanked the EPA representatives for presenting. She expressed hope that today's meeting and the planned public availability session will provide reassurance for neighbors. Committee Member Sheila Niezgodski asked about the number of soil samples taken and the location of monitoring wells. Demaree Collier said she would need to verify the exact number of samples taken per acre. She confirmed that extensive surface and subsurface soil sampling was conducted. She stated that detailed information about the soil sampling process will be presented at the public availability session this fall. Committee Chair Bolden-Simpson asked whether the new safe lead levels would require additional soil sampling or retesting. Demaree Collier explained that the EPA already has data from prior sampling, and they will reevaluate that existing data against the new standard rather than collecting new samples in all areas. She noted that if their review reveals gaps, the EPA has authority to request additional samples from the responsible parties. Citizen Member Dr. Doris McEwen expressed concern about the depth of the clean soil cap due to weather conditions in the area. She asked how frequently the EPA checks to verify that the soil remains in the mitigated state. Demaree Collier replied that the EPA conducts comprehensive five (5)-year reviews and added that she personally visits the site annually. She said the EPA also requests regular inspection reports from the responsible parties group to verify that the cap remains in place and that the requirements of the restrictive covenant are being followed. She noted that the restrictive covenant runs with the land, and its obligations transfer to any future owner. Committee Chair Bolden-Simpson invited public comments. Alick Pickens, 234 North Albert Avenue, South Bend, IN 46619, expressed concern regarding the current status of the Beck's Lake area and asked if more than two (2) homes were tested. She EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall I215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.91731 WVvW.southbendin.gov @ CTIY OF SOlfil-1 BEND I OFFICE OF THE CTIY CLERK shared that her five (5)-year-old niece is currently in cancer treatment due to lead poisoning. She emphasized the need for clean soil, clean water, and a review of children's lead poisoning statistics. Demaree Collier acknowledged the concern. She clarified that the EPA tested approximately fourteen (14) homes surrounding the park, and only two (2) of those homes required cleanup based on the prior lead standard of four-hundred ( 400) parts per million. She noted that there were properties where homeowners denied access, and those could not be sampled. Jorden Giger, 302 South Falcon Street, South Bend, IN 46619, asked if the EPA could include LaSalle Park residents in their regular meetings. He noted that there is a gap in community knowledge since the last public meeting in 2016, and homeowners are less likely to allow access for sampling if they are not well-informed. He asked if the EPA collects health data, noting that Census Tract Twenty-Three (23) has one of the lowest life expectancies in the county. Demaree Collier stated that their monthly internal meetings are closed, but they can increase the frequency of their public communications. She raised the possibility of starting a technical assistance group, a community-based group funded by the EPA through which community members can participate in the process and hire independent experts on their behalf. Lina Wu expressed excitement about establishing a Community Advisory Group (CAG). She said CAGs are comprised of community representatives from the affected area and provide them with an opportunity to directly engage with the EPA and other stakeholders. She said technical assistance grants can be further discussed at the fall meeting, and any health data collection would come from the local health department. Demaree Collier confirmed that CAGs and technical assistance grants would be discussed at the fall meeting. She added that the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) participates in their monthly internal calls and is currently collecting health data. Katheryn Redding, 1409 Miner Street, South Bend, IN 46617, expressed concern about the potential for airborne lead contamination and asked about testing outside of park boundaries, particularly beyond the tree line. She asked if the lake itself has been tested. She expressed concern about high rates of cancer in the community and asked about biological testing. Demaree Collier said any biological testing would be coordinated through the health department, and the EPA has worked with health departments at other sites to promote blood lead level testing in children. She acknowledged the concern of airborne contamination and confirmed that off-site sampling was done to determine whether any contaminants had migrated beyond the site boundary. She asked Katheryn Redding to send specific details about the tree line area to Lena Wu for follow-up. She confirmed that Beck's Lake itself has been sampled multiple times. Tiana Batiste-Waddell, 330 West Colfax Avenue, South Bend, IN 46601 , urged the City to expedite any remaining actions, noting the contamination issue has persisted for over one hundred (100) years. She stated that she emailed the Council and is requesting a meeting with Director of Public Works Eric Horvath to address concerns about potential toxicity in the synthetic turf recently installed near Marshall Intermediate Center. EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERM ENT 300 City Hall I215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.91731 www.southbendin.gov @ CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK Committee Chair Bolden-Simpson closed public comments and moved on to the next meeting topic. Committee Questions & Public Comment -Data Centers Committee Chair Bolden-Simpson invited questions from the Committee on the topic of data centers. Committee Member McBride thanked the presenters. She said she would have liked to hear another side of the data center issue, with a discussion of any potential benefits and opportunities they would provide. Committee Member Dr. Davis addressed Ben Inskeep's involvement in the recent Indianapolis moratorium action. He asked whether this was received as pro-or anti-data center, and whether he views a moratorium as an inherently negative signal toward data centers. Ben Inskeep stated that a moratorium can be passed for a variety of reasons, and a community can support a moratorium while still being open to data centers. He said the goal would be to ensure that local ordinances and policies are adequately protective before moving forward. He noted this is a relatively new type of development and that many communities now are considering this issue for the first (1 st) time. Committee Member Dr. Davis asked if the information in his presentation could be taken either way. Ben Inskeep confirmed his position that moratoriums are not necessarily "pro" or "con". He stated that these are impactful developments and many communities need time to develop effective policy. Committee Member Dr. Davis asked Ben Inskeep if he is aware of the moratorium in LaPorte County. Ben Inskeep said he does not have detailed knowledge of that specific policy, but he is aware of moratoriums in communities throughout the state. He said the motivations vary, with some communities wanting to increase regulations, some wanting to ban data centers altogether, and others hoping to welcome data centers but mitigate any negative impacts. Committee Member Dr. Davis noted that when the LaPorte County moratorium was implemented, only two (2) counties in Indiana had studied and updated their regulations to address data centers, and St. Joseph County was not one (1) of them. Committee Member Niezgodski echoed Committee Member McBride's comments about hearing another perspective. S_he asked Ben Inskeep to elaborate on the negative impacts of AI referenced in his presentation slides. She noted that it is unlikely that a large-scale facility would fit inside City limits and asked about the land use of smaller-scale facilities. Ben Inskeep replied that Al is a new technology without much regulatory framework and listed examples of its potential negative uses. He stated that he does not take a strong stance against AI, acknowledging both its beneficial uses and potential for harm. He said smaller data centers can EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall I215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.9173 / www.southbendin.gov @ CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK use less than ten ( I 0) acres of land. Committee Member Niezgodski asked if facilities under ten (10) acres pose the same risks as large-scale data centers, particularly regarding noise pollution. Ben Inskeep confirmed that smaller, traditional data centers have significantly smaller impacts across land use, power generation, water consumption, and noise. He said these facilities have not historically caused public concern, and the new, hyperscale AI facilities have brought attention to the issue. Committee Vice Chair Tomas Morgan noted that there are already small-scale data centers operating within the City, citing Union Station as an example. She spoke about her intention to attend the Accelerate Indiana Municipalities (AIM) workshop on data centers and offered to forward the registration information to her colleagues. Council President Lee stated that he would like to hear more about the potential benefits of data centers such as jobs, investment, and economic opportunity. He said he is neither for nor against, but he believes this is a time for the Council to be educated. Committee Member Gooden-Rodgers asked Ben Inskeep to confirm whether he or his organization is for or against data centers. Ben Inskeep confirmed that the Citizens Action Coalition opposes hyperscale data centers. He said Indiana already has more than ten thousand (10,000) megawatts of this type of data center under construction and expressed concern regarding state subsidies, tax exemptions, and abatements. Committee Chair Bolden-Simpson recognized the significant number of construction trade members who came to speak on the positive side of the issue. She asked Ben Inskeep how communities have leveraged Indiana's desirable attributes to set high standards for data center developers. Ben Inskeep said Indiana is a desirable location for data center developers due to its ability to establish new electrical grid connections quickly, high grid reliability, reduced risk of natural disasters or rolling blackouts, and existing high-voltage transmission infrastructure. Committee Chair Bolden-Simpson noted that the response did not quite answer her question, but she will follow up later. Citizen Member Joseph Mayer shared numbers illustrating that data center water usage is equivalent to existing large-scale consumers such as golf courses and agricultural irrigation systems. He expressed concern that the content of Ben Inskeep's presentation could promote misinformation, particularly if taken out of context. Ben Inskeep stated that the information he presented was factual and contested any implication that he had been misleading or inaccurate. Committee Chair Bolden-Simpson invited public comments. EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall I215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.91731 www.southbendin.gov ® CHY OF SOUTH BEND j OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK Jeff Rea, South Bend Regional Chamber of Commerce, 101 North Michigan Street, South Bend, IN 46601 , spoke about working with AWS and Microsoft, highlighting the jobs and wages they have brought to the region. He noted that data center developers are investing significantly in local infrastructure, and further hyperscale development in the area is unlikely. He offered to return for a more detailed follow-up conversation and encouraged the Committee to reach out. Sue Kesim, 4022 Kennedy Drive, South Bend, IN 46614, suggested implementing legislation that requires large-scale projects, particularly those receiving TIF funding or tax abatements, to meet certain environmental standards. She urged the City to prioritize the redevelopment of brownfields and former industrial sites before consuming agricultural land and undeveloped green space. She spoke about different sustainability features that could be implemented by data centers. James Gardner, Operating Engineers Union Local 150, 1001 North Michigan Street, Lakeville, IN 46536, expressed appreciation for the Committee's interest in the positive side of data centers. He stated that these developments offer long-term employment opportunities in the construction trades. He said a moratorium would signal that the community is not open for business and risk reversing the progress the City has made in recent years. John Hamilton, 913 West Colfax Avenue, South Bend, IN 46601 , expressed concerns around the long-term climate implications of data center development. He spoke about the impact of carbon dioxide emissions and stated that adding more fossil fuel-dependent data centers to the economy may provide short-term economic benefits at an environmental cost for future generations. Sharon Brinker, 51860 Waterford Green Drive, Granger, IN 46530, said she believes that environmentally responsible data center development is possible but expressed concern about a lack of protections in the permitting process. She spoke about transparency concerns with the Microsoft data center in Granger. She cited other concerns including diesel generator emissions, air quality impacts, noise ordinance enforcement, coolant leaks, fire control, and hazardous waste protocols. Murray Miller, Laborers Union Local 645 , 23698 Western Avenue, South Bend, IN 46619, expressed opposition to a complete moratorium. He said the economic benefits of data centers help offset the impact of Senate Enrolled Act One ( 1) and have allowed Indiana Michigan Power to lower electricity rates. He said the local workforce was prioritized for construction jobs, and non-local workers brought in a significant amount of innkeepers tax revenue from hotel stays. Committee Chair Bolden-Simpson thanked members of the public for their comments and said she is always open to additional meetings. Jorden Giger, 302 South Falcon Street, South Bend, IN 46619, expressed concern regarding rising utility costs and the City's involvement in AWS wastewater treatment. He raised equity concerns around job opportunities and long-term community benefits. He asked Ben Inskeep to address the risks of backup power generation and diesel fuel storage, and to speak to the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) by data center developers and their implications for public transparency. Ben Inskeep replied that storing large quantities of diesel fuel on site carries a level of risk, citing a reported diesel fuel spill at the A WS facility. He added that combustion produces air pollution EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall I215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.9173 1 www.southbendin.gov @ CITY OF SOlITH BEND I OFF1CE OF THE CI'IY CLERK and noise during generator operations. He also noted that some data centers are building on-site natural gas power plants that are not disclosed as part of the initial proposal, citing Meta's facility in Lebanon, Indiana. He addressed NDAs, expressing concern that they prevent government officials from sharing valuable information with constituents and allow large tech companies to operate without transparency. Steve Francis, Juday Lake Drive, South Bend, IN 46635, connected the data center discussion to the situation with Beck's Lake, noting that the site became contaminated due to insufficient regulations on industrial activity. He expressed support for a moratorium and raised concerns about the use of tax incentives in data center development. He asked Ben Inskeep to comment on recent efforts to keep the Rockport coal plant open to support data center energy needs. Ben Inskeep said he finds it alarming that state and federal officials are pushing to keep coal-fired power plants open. He said this action would compromise sustainability goals and consumer affordability. He said the situation illustrates the potential harms data centers can cause, even outside of the communities where they are directly located. Katheryn Redding, 1409 Miner Street, South Bend, IN 46617, asked about potential tax incentives for residents who are struggling with rising utility costs. She discussed conserving water resources through alternative cooling technologies. She noted that Hillsboro, Oregon is enacting legislation to ensure that large data centers cover shared grid and infrastructure costs. She expressed support for a moratorium and said there is a need for more transparency and safeguards. Committee Chair Bolden-Simpson thanked all presenters and members of the public for their participation. She encouraged everyone to continue asking questions and conducting research. She said the Committee will continue to discuss both topics. Committee Member Dr. Davis spoke about the issue from a zoning perspective, noting that existing ordinances were not written in anticipation of data center development. He said he will continue to evaluate the issue as the Zoning and Annexation Committee Chair. He noted that the tax incentive structure could prevent economic benefits from being fully realized, particularly in regard to Senate Enrolled Act One (1). With no further business, Committee Bolden-Simpson adjourned the Utilities Committee meeting at 8:48 P.M. Sherry Bo EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall I 215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 I p. 57 4.235. 9221 If. 57 4.235.9173 I www.southbendin.gov