City of Rochelle votes no to a data center following two years of back and forth

The Rochelle City Council has unanimously voted against moving forward with a proposed data center project, concluding two years of discussions and deliberations. The vote took place last night following approximately 40 minutes of additional council debate. The proposed data center site was planned for an area near the Love's Travel Stop on the city's south side. All seven city council leaders ultimately decided to vote no, driven by concerns expressed by neighbors regarding issues such as water usage, potential utility hikes, and noise. Following the vote, Rochelle Mayor John Bearrows spoke with 13 WREX, noting the diverse views presented by council members and the informative statements from the public. He acknowledged that residents had thoroughly researched the proposal and reiterated the council's responsibility to make decisions that are in the best interest of the community.