FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO) — Google hosted a community open house Thursday night from 4 to 7 p.m. to connect community members with representatives from the company. The event, held at the Covenant Impact Center, opened the floor for conversation as the Google data center enters its third phase of de velopment. Since the idea was first introduced in October 2023, Project Zodiac has undergone several changes, including an increase in the number of diesel generators, multiple environmental approvals from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and new concerns from local officials and residents. The project initially started as a $2 billion investment with a planned 12-building campus covering roughly 700 to 900 acres. The original plans called for 34 primary diesel generators over a 10-year period. (Photo supplied/WOWO News) In 2025, Google requested an expansion of the number of generators at the data center. IDEM approved the request, allowing for 140 additional emergency generators and five smaller generators, bringing the total to 179 generators. Phase 2 During Phase 2, developers requested approval to build five additional data center buildings, with the expansion affecting more than two acres of wetlands. IDEM approved the wetland permit for the expansion, allowing developers to move forward with the project while requiring mitigation for the environmental impacts. Phase 3 Phase 3 calls for three additional data center buildings and the relocation of a portion of Adams Ditch. IDEM approved the project’s Section 401 Water Quality Certification on June 5. However, another environmental review is now underway. The latest request would allow developers to fill about 2.13 acres of forested, isolated wetlands to make room for the three buildings. IDEM has scheduled a public hearing on the request for Aug. 25. Fort Wayne City Council President Geoff Paddock is asking IDEM to apply strict environmental standards as it reviews the expansion. Paddock said he has heard from residents who plan to attend the hearing and raise concerns about the project’s environmental impact. Paddock also said environmental and wetland impacts are typically discussed with City Council members during the rezoning process. He said those plans were not presented when council approved the data center’s rezoning in 2023. Google’s environmental efforts To mitigate the environmental impact of the expansion, Google has announced a $1.1 million contribution to Fort Wayne City Utilities, a stewardship effort to protect more than 20 acres of wetlands in Allen County and the preservation of more than 30 acres of wetlands on the data center property. The company’s plans also includes purchasing wetland mitigation credits, relocating about 3,255 linear feet of Adams Ditch and restoring the surrounding stream corridor. Google has also contributed $1.2 million to protect land in the St. Joseph River watershed and says the protected area could naturally recharge about 500 million gallons of groundwater each year. The company says these efforts are intended to address water use, wetland impacts and other environmental effects associated with the development. The latest Phase 3 request, however, means the environmental review of the project is continuing. The Aug. 25 IDEM hearing will give residents another opportunity to comment on the proposed wetland impacts. The post Google data center expansion overview following new wetland expansion request appeared first on WOWO News/Talk 92.3 FM and 1190 AM. ...read more read less