Protesters gathered outside the Morgan County Justice Complex in Martinsville on Monday to voice opposition to a planned data center in Monrovia. About a dozen people held signs with messages like “Farm corn, not data” and “Save our water.”
The event was organized by Monrovia resident Christopher Lamberson, who believes Monrovia is being targeted because its residents don’t have the time or resources to speak out.
“They want a place that doesn't speak out,” Lamberson said. “I think we're going to change that culture here. We're going to have the people stand up for ourselves, for our natural resources, and we're not going to be exploited.”
The proposed development is a five-building data center campus to be constructed on 390 acres of land previously zoned for agriculture. Lamberson criticized the project for its potential environmental impact, resource demands and lack of benefits for Monrovia residents.
“They're going to exploit our resources, our land and our water, and they're going to push for as many tax breaks as they possibly can,” Lamberson said. “We're inviting a monster into our town. And that's just the truth.”
Data centers require large amounts of water to cool servers, generate a constant hum and use almost as much power as a small town. Lamberson said he is worried that a data center could sink the water table and increase energy costs for Monrovia residents.
“I've heard out in the community out there, and they're concerned about this data center,” Lamberson said. “It was disappointing to me that they really want their voice to be heard about this, but a lot of them cannot afford the time because they're hard-working people.”
Since late fall 2024, the number of data centers in Indiana has increased from 38 to 70.
In late 2024, several property owners agreed to sell their land to an unnamed company for development. There is speculation that the company is Google.
Multiple Morgan County officials, appointed and elected, have signed non-disclosure agreements restricting them from discussing the data center project.
The project began in January when the Morgan County Economic Development Corporation filed a motion to rezone the land from agriculture to planned unit development. The Morgan County Commissioners approved the motion in February.
Monrovia resident Janice Bacon said county officials manipulated Monrovia by making changes to zoning maps.
“They gave us two weeks' notice that all the plans were in place,” Bacon said. “They had a meeting that was for the public, and 350 people showed up. They didn't listen to us at all. They'd already made up their minds.”
On March 20, two Monrovia residents filed a Verified Petition of Review lawsuit, arguing that the rezoning was arbitrary, disregarded the county's comprehensive plan, and raised concerns about its impact on property values.
“We have this community of people that aren't used to having to stick up for themselves, but they're ready to stick up for themselves,” Lamberson said.
The lawsuit claims the project is about exploiting Monrovia’s land, water, and resources. It says developers are targeting Monrovia because they believe they can take advantage of a working-class town with undervalued water rights and limited political resistance.
The residents claim county officials have kept details of the project secret from the community and have avoided public scrutiny while working behind closed doors with developers.
Despite the large public turnout against the data center, the county commissioners voted to pass the rezoning.
The commissioners did not respond to a request for comment.
Monday’s protest was the first of many planned.
“What brings people out is this injustice — them trying to squash us,” Lamberson said. “We're not going to be squashed.”