Data Center Proposed in South Elgin, Illinois; Former County Official Owns Land
A Dallas developer, Whiterose Partners LLC, is proposing a data center on 20 acres of farmland in South Elgin, Illinois, owned by former Kane County Board member Mike Kenyon. The project, which claims to generate significant property tax revenue, is facing anticipated public resistance regarding common data center concerns like water, electricity, and noise. A concept plan for the project will be presented to the South Elgin Planning and Zoning Commission on August 19th.
Whiterose Partners LLC, a Dallas-based developer, is proposing to build a data center on 20 acres of farmland in Elgin Township, owned by former Kane County Board member Mike Kenyon. The proposed site is located at 33W304 Kenyon Road, at the northwest corner of Kenyon and Illinois State Route 25, and would require annexation into South Elgin. The developer claims the project would generate over $1 million annually in property taxes for Kane County and hundreds of thousands for South Elgin.
Mike Kenyon, who represented the South Elgin area for 18 years, acknowledges the controversial nature of data centers and expects public backlash. The concept plan is scheduled for presentation before the South Elgin Planning and Zoning Commission on August 19th. The meeting was previously postponed due to concerns about parking availability conflicting with a summer concert, indicating high public interest.
Whiterose Managing Partner Jeff Eigenbrood addressed common concerns about water and electricity usage, stating the project would utilize a closed-loop cooling system requiring minimal water, less than two single-family homes' operational usage. He also claimed negligible noise levels due to state-of-the-art chillers and physical barriers, and committed that the project would fully fund all necessary electric grid upgrades, ensuring no costs are passed to existing consumers. The Planning and Zoning Commission's determinations for the concept plan are advisory.