In Northwest Indiana, underutilized brownfields sit alongside newly laid quantum fiber lines, creating a rare opportunity to pair legacy land with next-generation industries. The choices we make now about land reuse, energy, and community engagement will shape whether this growth is sustainable, resilient, and inclusive.

As an Economic Recovery Corps Fellow with the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC), I am leading an initiative to identify and prioritize at least eight brownfield sites along the emerging Quantum Fiber Corridor that stretches from Chicago to North Central Indiana. These sites will be evaluated for redevelopment potential, paired with reuse strategies, and connected to sources of public and private capital. The vision is simple but powerful: turn industrial legacies into platforms for quantum and data-driven innovation while advancing sustainability and community well-being.

This regional work is informed by NIRPC’s participation in the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Energy to Communities (E2C) cohort. Through that dialogue, we are exploring how quantum computing and large-scale data centers, both poised to expand dramatically, will influence energy load growth, grid capacity, and long-term resiliency. The lessons we bring back to Northwest Indiana help ground our planning in best practices for efficiency, renewable integration, and climate readiness.

Several questions guide our approach:

• How do we balance the economic promise of data centers and quantum facilities with the reality of their heavy energy and water demands?
• In what ways can site selection and design, such as renewable energy access, advanced cooling systems, and water reuse, mitigate environmental impact?
• How can we embed equity and resilience from the start, ensuring communities benefit not only from cleaner land but from new opportunities?

Brownfield reuse offers compelling answers. It curbs sprawl, revitalizes vacant land, and positions local residents at the center of high-tech redevelopment. By aligning site development with climate-smart practices, we can ensure the benefits of quantum-driven growth extend far beyond industry.

For economic developers, this is a call to action. As you evaluate data center and quantum-related opportunities, explore best practices in efficiency, renewable integration, and resilient infrastructure. Resources like the EPA Brownfields Program, EDA’s tech-based development strategies, and NREL’s E2C initiative offer valuable guidance.

If Northwest Indiana succeeds in pairing brownfield reuse with quantum innovation, it can model how regions with deep industrial legacies build a future that is both technologically advanced and environmentally just. Together, we can prove that the next era of economic growth does not have to come at the expense of resilience, sustainability, or community well-being.