Jasper County Plan Commission Denies NIPSCO's Request to Rezone Land for Industrial Use

The Jasper County Plan Commission voted against NIPSCO's request to rezone five parcels of land from Agriculture to Industrial 2 near its Schahfer plant in Wheatfield. NIPSCO aimed to develop a peaker plant, a combined cycle gas turbine plant, and potentially a data center on this site.

Commission member Vince Urbano cited NIPSCO's lack of preparedness and missing details as reasons for the unfavorable recommendation. The commission's decision, made in front of an audience at the Jasper County Fairgrounds, will inform the county commissioners' final ruling on January 6.

NIPSCO previously withdrew a request for 11 parcels and adjusted its proposal to five. The company claims the project aligns with the county's Comprehensive Plan and could bring significant investment and job opportunities. Local residents expressed concerns about water usage and property value impacts, particularly regarding the proposed data center.