Data center developer proposes project at shuttered Alton Steel site
TerraWatt has proposed a $3 billion, 200-megawatt data center at the former Alton Steel site in Alton, Illinois. The project would require rezoning and further utility, environmental and due-diligence studies, while TerraWatt is also suing St. Louis over renewable-energy requirements for a separate data center project.
TerraWatt has proposed redeveloping the shuttered Alton Steel mill site in Alton into a 200-megawatt Riverbend Technology Center. The $3 billion project would involve demolishing the existing mill buildings on the 381-acre property and could generate an estimated $17.2 million in annual property taxes after its first decade. TerraWatt says it would seek no local tax incentives or public funding.
The proposal remains preliminary: TerraWatt has a contingent agreement to purchase the property from Alton Steel Inc., but no formal permit or zoning application has been filed. The City of Alton plans to hire consultants and obtain civil engineering and environmental support, while a study by Ameren Illinois and TerraWatt’s due diligence are also required. Mayor David Goins said the city sees potential economic benefits but expects clear answers from the development team. TerraWatt separately plans a 120-megawatt data center in Midtown St. Louis and is suing the city over renewable-energy requirements it says exceed municipal authority.