Environmental & Sustainability
What environmental studies or permits were required for this project?
AWS and St. Joseph County have completed the necessary environmental studies and permitting processes to ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations. These include groundwater and wellfield assessments, stormwater management plans, and environmental impact reviews to protect air, land, and water resources. Ongoing monitoring will ensure the project continues to meet all sustainability and environmental standards.
How is St. Joseph County ensuring long-term protection of the aquifer?
St. Joseph County hired Peerless Midwest, an industry leader in groundwater and wellfield management, to calculate the aquifer’s safe yield and has established measures to ensure that no more than 50 percent of that safe yield is used to protect long-term water sustainability.
What is AWS doing to support sustainable water management in Indiana?
While Indiana has substantial water resources, sustainable management is essential for agriculture and environmental health. Traditional irrigation methods can lead to overuse, while runoff can affect water quality in local watersheds.
To support sustainable water use, AWS has launched two projects in Indiana:
- A smart irrigation project in the Kankakee Aquifer region that uses AWS-powered AI technology to improve agricultural water use. This project uses Arable’s data tools to monitor rainfall and crop water needs, helping farmers apply water more efficiently.
- A “Smart Wetland” restoration project in the Kankakee River Watershed that naturally filters agricultural runoff. The system also uses AI technology to help farmers make informed decisions about irrigation timing and volume.
Together, these efforts are expected to conserve or improve the quality of about 100 million gallons of water each year. They also support AWS’s broader goal to be water positive by 2030.
How will AWS power its data centers, and will this strain the local electric grid?
AWS works closely with local utilities and grid operators to ensure the data center campus operates within the region’s power capacity. The company continues to expand renewable energy generation in Indiana through large-scale solar and wind projects, helping to balance energy demand with sustainable supply. Globally, AWS matches 100% of its electricity use with renewable energy, achieving this target seven years ahead of its original 2030 goal.
AWS designs facilities for efficiency, reporting a global Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of 1.15, better than industry average. According to independent energy industry experts, 1.5 is the average PUE for data centers.