Alton Steel may sell former mill site to data center developer
Alton Steel announced it may sell its former 381-acre mill site in Alton to TerraWatt Global for redevelopment as a data center. The proposed sale remains subject to contingencies and approvals, while the existing property includes electrical, solar, natural gas, wastewater and rail infrastructure.
Alton Steel may sell its former mill property on Cut Street in Alton, Illinois, to TerraWatt Global, a New Jersey-based developer that markets construction-ready sites to hyperscale data center operators. The proposed redevelopment would convert the 381-acre industrial site into a data center project and make use of existing infrastructure, including an electrical substation, distribution systems, a 5-megawatt solar field, natural gas service, wastewater treatment and rail access.
The potential transaction is part of Alton Steel’s voluntary dissolution following the mill’s January 2026 closure and the loss of 253 jobs. Board member and Alton attorney John Simmons said TerraWatt’s proposal could maximize the property’s value and help satisfy obligations to creditors, while the sale remains contingent on required approvals and conditions tied to the proposed use.