Rochelle community's resource concerns lead to proposed data center rejection

Name: Rochelle community's resource concerns lead to proposed data center rejection
Uploaded: 2026-04-28T21:16:01.000Z
Duration: 58 s
Description: The Rochelle City Council unanimously voted against a proposed data center project in Rochelle, Illinois. This decision followed significant community concerns regarding the facility's potential power and water consumption. Mayor John Barrows also voiced strong opposition to the project.

News Clip0:58Eyewitness News WTVO WQRF (MyStateline)·Rochelle, Ogle County, IL·4/28/2026

The Rochelle City Council unanimously voted against a proposed data center project in Rochelle, Illinois. This decision followed significant community concerns regarding the facility's potential power and water consumption. Mayor John Barrows also voiced strong opposition to the project.

zoningoppositionenvironmentalelectricitywatergovernment

Gov: Rochelle City Council, John Barrows

The Rochelle City Council recently rejected a proposed data center project, following a unanimous vote against the plan by council members. The facility was slated for a 75-acre lot along Stewart Drive and was projected to create 500 construction jobs and 35 permanent positions.

Community residents and Mayor John Barrows voiced significant concerns about the potential strain on local resources, specifically power and water usage. Mayor Barrows, speaking prior to the vote, highlighted the critical need to protect the power supply for essential services like hospitals and homes, questioning the priority of the data center's energy demands over community needs.