Google buying Fort Wayne properties for data center buffer

Google has announced plans to acquire properties near its data center in Fort Wayne, Indiana, but insists the move is not part of an expansion effort. A spokesperson for the company described the purchases as creating a "buffer" around the existing site, though details on the purpose of this buffer remain unclear.

The company has hired a local real estate partner to manage the project, who will contact affected property owners in the coming weeks. This comes as Google faces criticism from neighbors over concerns about air quality and wetland destruction linked to the data center's operations.

Residents have also expressed opposition to Google's requests for hundreds of emergency generators and permits to fill nearby wetlands. Despite these challenges, Google maintains that the recent property acquisitions are purely strategic and not indicative of further expansion.