Google has received state approval to proceed with construction on its Project Zodiac data center campus, despite concerns from local residents about the impact on protected wetlands.
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) granted Google permission to fill more than two acres of wetlands with soil to make way for five buildings and supporting infrastructure near East Paulding and Adams Center roads. The request was submitted by Hatchworks LLC, acting on behalf of the tech giant.
As part of the approval, Google must offset the loss by purchasing 2.48 acres of unforested wetland credit and 1.58 acres of forested wetland credit from the Openings Wetland Mitigation Bank. If the credits are unavailable, the company may purchase the remaining credits from the Maumee Service Area of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ In-Lieu Fee Program. Google has until September 16, 2027, to complete these purchases.
The public comment period, held from August 12 to September 11, drew significant opposition. Residents voiced concerns about ecosystem loss, increased utility costs, and the broader impacts of data centers.
Despite several requests from residents, no public hearing was held before the approval.
Project Zodiac represents a major expansion of Google’s footprint in northeast Indiana, where data center development has been a key part of regional economic growth plans. IDEM’s approval clears one of the final environmental hurdles for the project to move forward.