The St. Joseph County Council voted 7-2 Tuesday to give their final approval for major tax breaks for Amazon’s $11 billion data center near New Carlisle.

And it stirred the first public questions, plus answers, over how Indiana Michigan Power would manage to feed the data center with the tremendous amount of electricity that it will demand.

Amazon will get a 50% property tax abatement for 10 years, plus an 85% tax break for 35 years on the technology that will make up a large share of the project’s cost.

As part of the deal, Amazon will pay into funds to support local students, fire and county police services, green spaces, roads, water and sewer infrastructure, and other “community enhancements.”

Costs and benefits:
Here's how much Amazon would save with St. Joseph County tax breaks

All of this came in four measures that the council approved, each by a 7-2 vote with Mark Root and Amy Drake casting the no votes.
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