A large data center campus could be developed outside Indianapolis, Indiana.

As reported by IBJ and others, real estate firm Surge Development is proposing to develop a data center campus in Hancock County, Indiana.

The 775-acre Hancock County MegaSite Planned Unit Development District would be a large-scale data center/industrial campus.

Although the number or scope of planned data centers has not been shared and “may vary” depending on the end-user, a site plan suggests the first phase could see five buildings and a substation developed.

The site of the proposed campus is located around 3400 West 500 N in Buck Creek Township, some 15 miles east of downtown Indianapolis and immediately east of the Indianapolis Regional Airport. The site lies generally east of County Road 400 West, south of County Road 600 North, and spans both sides of County Road 500 North.

"These folks are looking all over the country to locate these facilities," Surge Development CEO Chris King told WRTV. "National security interests are supporting AI. I think Hancock County and Indiana in general have an opportunity to be part of that."

An end-user for the campus wasn’t named, but all the ‘representative images’ of data centers in submitted documents are of known Google facilities.

Currently zoned agricultural, the Hancock County Comprehensive Plan currently suggests manufacturing or a manufacturing-related use on the land as a future option.

The proposal has concerned some local residents. The owners of the nearby Tuttle Orchards have written an open letter saying the development would “significantly alter the character of the area and negatively impact” the area. The orchard dates back to 1890.

The proposals are set to go before the Hancock County Area Plan Commission at a meeting on May 27.