Alton residents pack open house about possible data center at former steel mill
TeraWatt is considering developing the Riverbend Technology Center data center at the former Alton Steel Mill in Alton, Illinois. Dozens of residents attended an open house, with some citing concerns about noise, pollution, utility costs, electricity and water use, while others supported potential jobs and tax revenue.
TeraWatt held a crowded open house for its proposed Riverbend Technology Center at the former Alton Steel Mill, drawing dozens of residents and protesters. The company has not yet submitted a formal proposal to the City of Alton, but said it hopes to do so by the end of the year.
Residents expressed mixed views. Supporters cited potential jobs, local business and tax revenue, while opponents raised concerns about noise, pollution, utility costs and impacts on local power and water supplies. Cecilia Dvorak, a consultant working with TeraWatt, said the open house was intended to explain the project and gather community input. Some residents also referenced TeraWatt's separate data center proposal at the Armory in Midtown St. Louis and its lawsuit against the city over construction prerequisites.