ST JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. (WSBT) — Passionate taxpayers from both South Bend and New Carlisle are speaking out against another data center coming into the area.

Environmental concerns continue to be the main argument against data centers, emphasizing they would rather see the land used for agricultural purposes instead.

The county council needs to stand up for those of us who live in St. Joe County, not for those coming from outside to use our natural resources,” said protest organizer Steve Francis.

Francis is a Sustainable Energy and Economic Development Consultant.

Protestors gathered outside of South Bend’s County City building, opposing a potential data center that could be built near New Carlisle.

County council members previously postponed a vote to rezone the land of the proposed site.

Protestors hoping to share their frustration with council members during public comment at Tuesday’s meeting, even though the rezoning vote was not on the agenda.

But councilmembers say that’s not stopping the public from making their voices heard.

I listened to them, and I will say on this, I’ve had now about 85 emails. They’re against this project; people are against it. I had one phone call. And so that’s the highest, I’ve been on the Council for over three years now. I think that’s the highest I’ve ever received,” said St Joseph County Councilman (R) Randy Figg.

Protest organizer Steve Francis says that data centers use “millions of gallons of water and a tremendous amount of electricity.”

But according to Amazon leaders, that’s not the case.

Last week, WSBT22’s Bob Montgomery sat down with an Amazon leader in an exclusive interview, asking him about the expected water usage for the Amazon Data Center currently being built near New Carlisle.

“In our operations in New Carlisle, we don’t expect to withdraw, or use water more than 2% of the year of our operations,” said America’s Power & Water For Amazon Web Services Brandon Oyer.

WSBT22 asked Francis his response to Amazon saying they aren’t using excessive water.

Well, I think that given the studies we’ve seen, that’s an astounding claim that they’re only using a 2% of the year. We all know with the heat we have from May to October, they’re going to have to cool millions of data servers in their plan,” said Francis.

Other protesters shared their distrust in Oyer’s claims.

So what makes me think that all of a sudden, corporations are gonna start being totally honest when their board just wants to make more money?” said protester Mary Beth Digann.

Tuesday’s protest comes before a data center conference being held tomorrow night, hosted by Indiana’s Secretary of Energy and Natural Resources.

They will discuss the impact of data centers on our communities.

St. Joseph County Council members are expected to be in attendance.