AWS Project White River: $15B 2.4GW NIPSCO AI Expansion
Status: Planned / Strategic Mobilization (March 2026) | Location: Northwest Indiana / NIPSCO Service Territory
Project Overview
Project White River represents one of the most ambitious data center expansions in the United States, positioning Amazon Web Services (AWS) at the center of a rapidly evolving energy and digital infrastructure landscape. Valued at approximately $15 billion, the project builds on AWS’s earlier $11 billion New Carlisle development and significantly scales its footprint across Northern Indiana with an additional 2.4 gigawatts (GW) of capacity. What distinguishes Project White River is its vertically integrated energy strategy, developed in partnership with Northern Indiana Public Service Company and its newly established subsidiary, NIPSCO GenCo. Under this model, AWS is effectively financing and enabling the creation of a dedicated utility ecosystem tailored to its hyperscale needs. The agreement includes the construction of two large-scale natural gas-fired power plants, each with a capacity of 1.3 GW, alongside a 400-megawatt battery energy storage system designed to enhance grid stability and support peak demand.
As of March 2026, the proposal is under review by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, particularly focusing on a “special contract” structure that ensures AWS bears the full cost of infrastructure development. This arrangement is projected to shield local ratepayers from financial burden, potentially saving them around $1 billion over a 15-year period. Despite these economic benefits, the project has drawn scrutiny from environmental advocates, including the Citizens Action Coalition, who argue that the reliance on natural gas for the initial 2.4 GW load contradicts broader clean energy goals. Critics highlight the absence of new renewable energy integration at launch, raising concerns about long-term emissions and sustainability implications as hyperscale data center demand continues to surge.
Quick Facts
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Project Name | AWS Project White River: $15B 2.4GW NIPSCO AI Expansion |
| Location | Northwest Indiana / NIPSCO Service Territory |
| Status | Planned / Strategic Mobilization (March 2026) |
| Commissioning | Phase 1 Online: 2027; Full 2.4GW load by 2032 |
| Total IT Load | 2.4 GW (Dedicated to AWS campuses) |
| Total Capacity | 3 GW total new grid capacity (0.6GW surplus for local grid) |
| Tier Level | Tier IV (AI-Ready Hyperscale) |
| Project Type | Regional AI Supercluster & High-Performance Cloud |
City Profile
| Header | Details |
|---|
| City Name | Indiana |
| Population | ~6.83 million |
| Urban Agglomeration | Major metros: Indianapolis ~2.1M, Chicago metro (IN portion included) |
| City GDP | ~$450 billion (state GDP) |
| Per Capita Income | ~$58,000 |
| City Tier | Tier 1 (Developed U.S. state with strong industrial base) |
| Key Strengths | Manufacturing hub (automotive, steel), logistics & transportation, growing data center market, central U.S. location, strong infrastructure, affordable power |
Companies Involved
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Developer / Operator | Amazon Web Services |
| Strategic Infrastructure Partner | NIPSCO Generation LLC (GenCo) / IURC. |
| Construction Contractor | TBD (Anticipated 2,000+ construction roles). |
| MEP Engineering | AWS Global Infrastructure / NIPSCO Engineering. |
| Network Connectivity | High-capacity "Hoosier Link" to Chicago and Project Rainier. |
| Power Infrastructure | 2.6 GW Gas Generation + 400 MW Storage; $7B utility investment. |
Technical Specifications
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Power Capacity | 2,400 MW (2.4 GW) |
| UPS Redundancy | $2N$ architecture backed by 4-hour 400MW battery array. |
| Cooling System | Optimized for AI workloads (same stack as Project Rainier). |
| Connectivity | Central node for AWS's Midwestern AI training expansion. |
| PUE Target | < 1.12 |
| Energy Mix | Natural Gas (Baseload) + Battery Storage (Peak Shaving). |
Milestones
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Announcement | November 24, 2025 (Official Multi-Site Reveal) |
| Construction Start | Expected Late 2026 |
| Phase 1 Go-Live | January 1, 2027 |
| Full Buildout | End of 2032 |
Investment Details
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Total Investment | Data Center Capex: $15 Billion; Power/Grid Capex: $7 Billion. |
| Funding | AWS Capital Expenditure / NIPSCO GenCo Financing. |