Hoosier Environmental Council Executive Director Sam Carpenter gave a presentation at a community forum in Gary, Indiana, about data center proposals. He emphasized the environmental impacts of data centers, which have evolved significantly to support the growth of artificial intelligence. The presentation was part of a larger discussion about the impact of the 2025 legislative session's Senate Enrolled Act 1, which could put communities more reliant on local income taxes and potentially create issues with allocation for general services. Data center operators are moving to Indiana due to generous tax subsidies from communities and state environmental policies favoring industry. Carpenter also suggested creating a local ordinance to set standards for data centers. Local environmental advocates also voiced their opposition to data centers in the region.