Ben Inskeep
@beninskeep.bsky.social
Program Director at Citizens Action Coalition | Working on a clean, affordable, and just energy transition | He/Him | Views expressed are mine
📰Update: Citizens Action Coalition and other organizations, represented by Earthjustice, have filed a challenge to overturn the illegal DOE orders that directed NIPSCO and CenterPoint to keep unreliable, dilapidated coal plants open and raise our rates to pay for them.
My thoughts:
My thoughts:
January 23, 2026 at 2:16 PM
📰Update: Citizens Action Coalition and other organizations, represented by Earthjustice, have filed a challenge to overturn the illegal DOE orders that directed NIPSCO and CenterPoint to keep unreliable, dilapidated coal plants open and raise our rates to pay for them.
My thoughts:
My thoughts:
New: Our analysis finds Big Tech is planning nearly 11,000 MW of AI data centers at 10 locations in Indiana. (There are 40+ non-Big Tech data center proposals, too.)
Each Big Tech data center will receive 🚨billions🚨 in subsidies under our lucrative sales tax exemption.
Each Big Tech data center will receive 🚨billions🚨 in subsidies under our lucrative sales tax exemption.
January 22, 2026 at 1:58 PM
New: Our analysis finds Big Tech is planning nearly 11,000 MW of AI data centers at 10 locations in Indiana. (There are 40+ non-Big Tech data center proposals, too.)
Each Big Tech data center will receive 🚨billions🚨 in subsidies under our lucrative sales tax exemption.
Each Big Tech data center will receive 🚨billions🚨 in subsidies under our lucrative sales tax exemption.
Cut through the noise on AI data centers by joining experts, including myself, today at 11:30am for a webinar on their impacts.
I will present on the energy, sustainability, and affordability impacts of the 49 AI data centers proposed in Indiana, based on our research.
I will present on the energy, sustainability, and affordability impacts of the 49 AI data centers proposed in Indiana, based on our research.
January 21, 2026 at 2:14 PM
Cut through the noise on AI data centers by joining experts, including myself, today at 11:30am for a webinar on their impacts.
I will present on the energy, sustainability, and affordability impacts of the 49 AI data centers proposed in Indiana, based on our research.
I will present on the energy, sustainability, and affordability impacts of the 49 AI data centers proposed in Indiana, based on our research.
Nationally, the cost of natural gas power plants has been rapidly increasing.
January 16, 2026 at 2:04 PM
Nationally, the cost of natural gas power plants has been rapidly increasing.
Join me and other experts on January 21 for a webinar on how AI data centers impact our energy ⚡️, water🌊, and communities🏘️.
I'll provide an update on the ~50 proposals in Indiana and their impacts to energy & affordability.
purdue-edu.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
I'll provide an update on the ~50 proposals in Indiana and their impacts to energy & affordability.
purdue-edu.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
January 9, 2026 at 5:56 PM
Join me and other experts on January 21 for a webinar on how AI data centers impact our energy ⚡️, water🌊, and communities🏘️.
I'll provide an update on the ~50 proposals in Indiana and their impacts to energy & affordability.
purdue-edu.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
I'll provide an update on the ~50 proposals in Indiana and their impacts to energy & affordability.
purdue-edu.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
It is particularly frustrating to see that NIPSCO has been colluding with the federal government since at least August 2025 to find ways to extend the life of Schahfer, while telling stakeholders it would retire the plant this year.
December 24, 2025 at 10:19 PM
It is particularly frustrating to see that NIPSCO has been colluding with the federal government since at least August 2025 to find ways to extend the life of Schahfer, while telling stakeholders it would retire the plant this year.
Another problem? These are some of the most inefficient and least reliable power plants.
In fact, Schahfer Unit 18 is so unreliable that it broke down nearly six months ago and has been in an extended *outage* since then! iurc.portal.in.gov/docketed-cas...
In fact, Schahfer Unit 18 is so unreliable that it broke down nearly six months ago and has been in an extended *outage* since then! iurc.portal.in.gov/docketed-cas...
December 24, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Another problem? These are some of the most inefficient and least reliable power plants.
In fact, Schahfer Unit 18 is so unreliable that it broke down nearly six months ago and has been in an extended *outage* since then! iurc.portal.in.gov/docketed-cas...
In fact, Schahfer Unit 18 is so unreliable that it broke down nearly six months ago and has been in an extended *outage* since then! iurc.portal.in.gov/docketed-cas...
🚨NEW🚨: DOE has issued illegal orders forcing two Indiana coal plants, Culley Unit 2 (CenterPoint) and Schahfer Units 17 and 18 (NIPSCO), to stay open.
Both were scheduled to retire at the end of this month.
These costly orders will raise our bills. We can't afford this!
Both were scheduled to retire at the end of this month.
These costly orders will raise our bills. We can't afford this!
December 24, 2025 at 10:19 PM
🚨NEW🚨: DOE has issued illegal orders forcing two Indiana coal plants, Culley Unit 2 (CenterPoint) and Schahfer Units 17 and 18 (NIPSCO), to stay open.
Both were scheduled to retire at the end of this month.
These costly orders will raise our bills. We can't afford this!
Both were scheduled to retire at the end of this month.
These costly orders will raise our bills. We can't afford this!
4 of 92 counties have now enacted data center moratoriums in Indiana
December 18, 2025 at 9:10 PM
4 of 92 counties have now enacted data center moratoriums in Indiana
More than 400 people turned up to a data center developer's open house earlier this week in Indianapolis. 👀
Hoosiers are fed up with AI data centers steamrolling their way into our communities and cutting secret backroom deals with utilities & decisionmakers.
Hoosiers are fed up with AI data centers steamrolling their way into our communities and cutting secret backroom deals with utilities & decisionmakers.
November 20, 2025 at 7:25 PM
More than 400 people turned up to a data center developer's open house earlier this week in Indianapolis. 👀
Hoosiers are fed up with AI data centers steamrolling their way into our communities and cutting secret backroom deals with utilities & decisionmakers.
Hoosiers are fed up with AI data centers steamrolling their way into our communities and cutting secret backroom deals with utilities & decisionmakers.
HEART-WARMING🥰: A new unifying issue: Just about everyone hates AI data centers.
“The MAGA crowd and the Bernie bros have both figured out that they’ve been getting duped,” said
Kerwin Olson of CAC.
Opposition is widespread across political affiliation & geography.
“The MAGA crowd and the Bernie bros have both figured out that they’ve been getting duped,” said
Kerwin Olson of CAC.
Opposition is widespread across political affiliation & geography.
November 17, 2025 at 1:56 PM
HEART-WARMING🥰: A new unifying issue: Just about everyone hates AI data centers.
“The MAGA crowd and the Bernie bros have both figured out that they’ve been getting duped,” said
Kerwin Olson of CAC.
Opposition is widespread across political affiliation & geography.
“The MAGA crowd and the Bernie bros have both figured out that they’ve been getting duped,” said
Kerwin Olson of CAC.
Opposition is widespread across political affiliation & geography.
NIPSCO is proposing to make the data center customer pay for transmission upgrades needed to serve the data center.
In contrast, Indiana utility I&M is forcing its captive ratepayers to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in transmission upgrades for Big Tech data centers.
In contrast, Indiana utility I&M is forcing its captive ratepayers to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in transmission upgrades for Big Tech data centers.
November 11, 2025 at 2:42 PM
NIPSCO is proposing to make the data center customer pay for transmission upgrades needed to serve the data center.
In contrast, Indiana utility I&M is forcing its captive ratepayers to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in transmission upgrades for Big Tech data centers.
In contrast, Indiana utility I&M is forcing its captive ratepayers to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in transmission upgrades for Big Tech data centers.
NIPSCO also stated that it executed a 600 MW capacity contract "from a third-party thermal generator" for 2027.
Hallador, owner of the coal-fired Merom Station, announced yesterday a $20 million contract for 2027 👀.
Is NIPSCO buying coal capacity for its data centers?
Hallador, owner of the coal-fired Merom Station, announced yesterday a $20 million contract for 2027 👀.
Is NIPSCO buying coal capacity for its data centers?
November 11, 2025 at 2:42 PM
NIPSCO also stated that it executed a 600 MW capacity contract "from a third-party thermal generator" for 2027.
Hallador, owner of the coal-fired Merom Station, announced yesterday a $20 million contract for 2027 👀.
Is NIPSCO buying coal capacity for its data centers?
Hallador, owner of the coal-fired Merom Station, announced yesterday a $20 million contract for 2027 👀.
Is NIPSCO buying coal capacity for its data centers?
Other ERAS info posted to MISO shows that NIPSCO is planning to add *another* NGCC in addition to its 2,600 MW proposal for Schahfer, bringing their planned gas additions for data centers to 3,500 MW.
The entire NIPSCO utility has a peak of 2,300 MW, before data center load.
The entire NIPSCO utility has a peak of 2,300 MW, before data center load.
November 11, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Other ERAS info posted to MISO shows that NIPSCO is planning to add *another* NGCC in addition to its 2,600 MW proposal for Schahfer, bringing their planned gas additions for data centers to 3,500 MW.
The entire NIPSCO utility has a peak of 2,300 MW, before data center load.
The entire NIPSCO utility has a peak of 2,300 MW, before data center load.
Strangely, NIPSCO has redacted the (1) location of the 2,600 MW gas plant and (2) the year in which the Mitchell battery will come online.
It sure looks like this information is publicly posted on MISO's website (images in green)!
Battery built by 2028. Gas plants at Schahfer.
It sure looks like this information is publicly posted on MISO's website (images in green)!
Battery built by 2028. Gas plants at Schahfer.
November 11, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Strangely, NIPSCO has redacted the (1) location of the 2,600 MW gas plant and (2) the year in which the Mitchell battery will come online.
It sure looks like this information is publicly posted on MISO's website (images in green)!
Battery built by 2028. Gas plants at Schahfer.
It sure looks like this information is publicly posted on MISO's website (images in green)!
Battery built by 2028. Gas plants at Schahfer.
New🔴: NIPSCO is requesting IURC approval of a 15-year special contract with a 2,400 MW data center customer, whose identity is not revealed but is "one of the largest corporations in the world."
The data centers will be served with gas, batteries, and possibly coal.
The data centers will be served with gas, batteries, and possibly coal.
November 11, 2025 at 2:42 PM
New🔴: NIPSCO is requesting IURC approval of a 15-year special contract with a 2,400 MW data center customer, whose identity is not revealed but is "one of the largest corporations in the world."
The data centers will be served with gas, batteries, and possibly coal.
The data centers will be served with gas, batteries, and possibly coal.
A new 500 MW customer -- most likely, another data center -- is proposing to come to Fort Wayne, according to a new AEP submission. Its ~10 miles away from a 1,200 MW Google data center under construction.
November 7, 2025 at 1:59 PM
A new 500 MW customer -- most likely, another data center -- is proposing to come to Fort Wayne, according to a new AEP submission. Its ~10 miles away from a 1,200 MW Google data center under construction.
We (Citizens Action Coalition) are now tracking more than 10,000 MW of data centers being planned and constructed in Indiana by the Big 4 tech companies. These facilities could use more than 80% of our electricity.
Dozens of additional large data centers have also been proposed by others.
Dozens of additional large data centers have also been proposed by others.
November 7, 2025 at 1:30 PM
We (Citizens Action Coalition) are now tracking more than 10,000 MW of data centers being planned and constructed in Indiana by the Big 4 tech companies. These facilities could use more than 80% of our electricity.
Dozens of additional large data centers have also been proposed by others.
Dozens of additional large data centers have also been proposed by others.
The ink isn't even dry on AES Indiana's IRP, which found SMRs are not cost effective under any scenario, and the utility is announcing it is doing a study on siting SMRs at its power plants!?
More imprudent and wasteful spending that will result in rate hikes for Indy residents.
More imprudent and wasteful spending that will result in rate hikes for Indy residents.
November 6, 2025 at 4:12 PM
The ink isn't even dry on AES Indiana's IRP, which found SMRs are not cost effective under any scenario, and the utility is announcing it is doing a study on siting SMRs at its power plants!?
More imprudent and wasteful spending that will result in rate hikes for Indy residents.
More imprudent and wasteful spending that will result in rate hikes for Indy residents.
A follow up email from IDEM indicates the data center sent untested, potentially contaminated soil to other locations and directs the data center to address the issue in its response due this month t.co/nXjS6FuTMW
November 5, 2025 at 4:24 PM
A follow up email from IDEM indicates the data center sent untested, potentially contaminated soil to other locations and directs the data center to address the issue in its response due this month t.co/nXjS6FuTMW
This data center being built in Michigan City, IN, violated environmental policies by taking soil so heavily contaminated that it reeked of chemical odor and, instead of testing it for contamination, used it to create berms for the data center.
t.co/VSDnVIyUNg
t.co/VSDnVIyUNg
November 5, 2025 at 4:24 PM
This data center being built in Michigan City, IN, violated environmental policies by taking soil so heavily contaminated that it reeked of chemical odor and, instead of testing it for contamination, used it to create berms for the data center.
t.co/VSDnVIyUNg
t.co/VSDnVIyUNg
A data center development recently caught ignoring environmental laws in Indiana is also being picketed by union workers for relying primarily on out-of-state labor.
Not only do data centers provide few permanent jobs, they aren't even using local labor to build 'em! local150.org/news/local-1...
Not only do data centers provide few permanent jobs, they aren't even using local labor to build 'em! local150.org/news/local-1...
November 5, 2025 at 4:24 PM
A data center development recently caught ignoring environmental laws in Indiana is also being picketed by union workers for relying primarily on out-of-state labor.
Not only do data centers provide few permanent jobs, they aren't even using local labor to build 'em! local150.org/news/local-1...
Not only do data centers provide few permanent jobs, they aren't even using local labor to build 'em! local150.org/news/local-1...
Residential customers will pay 40% of the transmission-related costs and 57% of the distribution-related costs associated with the project.
November 5, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Residential customers will pay 40% of the transmission-related costs and 57% of the distribution-related costs associated with the project.
New: Duke Energy Indiana is proposing to force ratepayers to subsidize a transmission project to serve a Meta data center and other C&I customers at River Ridge.
The cost of the project just 🚨doubled🚨 to $216 million.
Data centers are making your utility bill go up📈
The cost of the project just 🚨doubled🚨 to $216 million.
Data centers are making your utility bill go up📈
November 5, 2025 at 12:56 PM
New: Duke Energy Indiana is proposing to force ratepayers to subsidize a transmission project to serve a Meta data center and other C&I customers at River Ridge.
The cost of the project just 🚨doubled🚨 to $216 million.
Data centers are making your utility bill go up📈
The cost of the project just 🚨doubled🚨 to $216 million.
Data centers are making your utility bill go up📈
CenterPoint has proposed a $29.9 million transmission project to serve "Project Raider" located along the transmission line stretching between two coal plants in southwest Indiana.
Project Raider will use 600 MW of power, suggesting it is a data center or very large industrial customer.
Project Raider will use 600 MW of power, suggesting it is a data center or very large industrial customer.
November 4, 2025 at 9:57 PM
CenterPoint has proposed a $29.9 million transmission project to serve "Project Raider" located along the transmission line stretching between two coal plants in southwest Indiana.
Project Raider will use 600 MW of power, suggesting it is a data center or very large industrial customer.
Project Raider will use 600 MW of power, suggesting it is a data center or very large industrial customer.