Citizens push back on possible data center in Town of Beloit
Residents in the Town of Beloit, Wisconsin, are opposing a potential hyperscale data center, citing environmental and health concerns. A local group, Rock County Neighbors for Responsible Development, formally requested an 18-month moratorium and protective measures. The Town of Beloit board recently banned staff from signing NDAs related to data center proposals without board approval.
Data centers are rapidly expanding across Wisconsin, with projects in communities like Port Washington, Beaver Dam, and Mount Pleasant. In Rock County, specifically the Town of Beloit, residents are mobilizing in response to a potential hyperscale data center development, pushing for environmental and public health protections before any proposals are voted on.
Resident Brittany Keys revealed that a local reporter from WKO uncovered emails between Rock County and Town of Beloit leaders and a company called Camron LLC, leading to a pre-development agreement. Concerned about the project's environmental and health impacts, Keys helped form Rock County Neighbors for Responsible Development. This group hosted a community education session attended by 300 people and formally requested that Town of Beloit leaders impose an 18-month moratorium on large data center proposals. They also seek protective measures such as third-party air and water monitoring, a binding community benefits agreement to support local schools and workforce development, and transparency regarding official dealings.
In a recent development, the Town of Beloit board unanimously approved a measure banning town staff from signing non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) for potential data center projects without board approval. Town Administrator John Malio, who proposed the ban, stated his belief that projects impacting so many people should be open and discussed. Malio explained that his predecessor had signed an NDA with Camron LLC, leading to a pre-development agreement for over 430 acres for a data center project dubbed "Project Corn Maze," which included a water and sewer study paid for by Camron. He later learned that developer Panaton had taken over the project, though no formal conversations have yet taken place with town leaders.
Malio emphasized the need for more specific information on project details, such as gigawatt usage and building square footage, to assess the tax impact, water discharge, and sewer requirements. He confirmed that the town board would ultimately decide on any data center proposal and that the residents' requested environmental protections and measures have been shared with both the town board and the plan commission for future consideration.