Episode 8 – Data Centers, Power Bills, and the Future of Indiana

In this episode of Gaslit: The Power of Story, Tommy talks with the Citizens Action Coalition — Ryan Stratman, Ben Inskeep, and Bryce Gustafson — about the rapid rise of hyperscale AI data centers in Indiana and what they mean for affordability, energy use, water demand, and long-term costs on households.

These new facilities aren’t the data centers Indiana is used to. They can use hundreds to thousands of megawatts of electricity — in some cases more power than entire cities — and may require expensive new infrastructure that could ultimately shift costs onto ratepayers. We break down:

• How AI-driven data centers differ from traditional facilities
• Their projected power demand (comparable to or exceeding steel mills)
• Water use concerns
• Subsidies, tax abatements, and long-term public costs
• Delayed coal retirements and rapid natural gas expansion
• Noise, air pollution, diesel backup systems, and land-use impacts
• How communities across Indiana have already stopped 13 proposed projects
• What residents can do when a project is proposed in their county

Stay informed or get involved with Citizens Action Coalition at citact.org.

All episodes, transcripts, and articles are at: https://fireside.evansville.edu/gaslit

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