Porter County Board of Commissioners President Jim Biggs, R-North, read a five-minute statement at the Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday morning critical of petitioner QTS, the Kansas City-based company attempting to develop two data centers in Wheeler, and called for the county to “move on” from the plan.
As one audience member noted when he was finished speaking – “He didn’t say, ‘No.’” – the statement does not hold any weight regarding the company’s right to petition the county.
The proposed projects are being called Jeremiah A and Jeremiah B. Jeremiah A is proposed for a 351.85-acre parcel at the northeast corner of County Road W 450 N and County Road N 750 W owned by John Loxas of Hammond.
A full audience applauds Porter County Board of Commissioners President Jim Biggs, R-North, after he read a statement on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, calling for the county to move on from its focus on a pending application for a planned unit development to accommodate a data center in Wheeler. (Shelley Jones/for Post-Tribune)
Jeremiah B is proposed for 434.46 acres owned by Johnson Sunnybrook Farm, LLC and Ceres Cedar Creek Farm, LLC, of Hobart, at the southeast corner of W 450 N and N 650 W due north of Union Township Middle and High Schools.
Biggs pointed out that the county has insisted on following the “ordinance-based processes for decisions regarding this project” as the company works its way through the petition for formation of a planned unit development, which, if approved, would allow for change to the county’s Unified Development Ordinance through a vote of the board of commissioners.
He acknowledged that the pace has seemed slow since initial intentions were presented in December, particularly for those living and/or sending their children to school adjacent to the proposed location. Biggs said the knowledge that Blackstone, the parent company of QTS, also has ownership in NIPSCO, caused him and Board Vice President Ed Morales, R-South, to ponder that business relationship.
NIPSCO announced on Jan. 2, 2024, that it had completed a 19.9% minority equity interest transaction with a subsidiary of Blackstone Infrastructure Partners Affiliate for $2.6 billion.
“While such interests may or may not represent standard business transactions, we understand the desire for transparency regarding this business partnership,” Biggs said. “To date, the Porter County Board of Commissioners has not received a complete response from NIPSCO or QTS concerning this affiliation.”
“To say that communication has been slow coming into our planning department would be an understatement,” he went on. “Good communication is not only expected, but also tantamount to just about anything else QTS could be providing to the county planning department and our residents at this time.”
He continued that while most county officials understand the economic benefits of a “mega-data center,” they also must balance those with quality of life concerns.
“So if you want to come here and develop something as large as this data center is proposed to be, you had better come to the table with something other than the promise of more tax dollars. Do not make the mistake of confusing our need for additional tax revenue with vulnerability.”
The statement was met with applause from the audience, which was nearly standing-room-only.
Neither Morales nor Commissioner Barb Regnitz, R-Center, commented on the statement, though Regnitz said publicly at a board meeting months ago that she would vote against any data center proposal. During the public comment portion of the meeting at the end of the agenda, several people spoke to thank Biggs and the board.
Gary Brown, president of the Porter County Chapter of the Izaak Walton League, addresses the Porter County Board of Commissioners Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025. (Shelley Jones/for Post-Tribune)
Gary Brown, president of the Porter County Chapter of the Izaak Walton League, told the board, “Be straight with the people and we’ll always have your back,” and warned the commissioners to be aware of any efforts at the state level to circumvent home rule on the subject.
Biggs said, “That has been a constant annoyance, that we have to stop what we’re doing” to lobby against proposed laws, referring to those such as HB 1628, which sought to allow multijurisdictional infrastructure projects without the need for local permits or approval.
“I just want to thank you, that’s all,” said Union Township resident Amy Ketchum. “It takes a lot of courage to stand up to a $1 billion company.”
Union Township School Corporation Superintendent Lee Barnes, who has spoken publicly several times against the proposed project, thanked Biggs for standing up for the community.
Union Township School Corporation Superintendent Lee Barnes addresses the Porter County Board of Commissioners at its meeting Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025. (Shelley Jones/for Post-Tribune)
After one woman told Biggs, “You’re going to have more people having better sleep,” he chose to clarify the impact of his statement.
“QTS still has the right to continue with their application,” he said. “I’m not saying, ‘You’re not going to get your application in front of us.’” But after 11 months working with the county, during which the communication “has been horrid” by Biggs’ standards, the company’s prospects for a warm reception continue to dim.
Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
