Residents voice fears over water and power as Belvidere discusses data center
Belvidere residents voiced strong opposition to Project Hawkeye, a proposed three-gigawatt hyperscale data center on Genoa Road near Interstate 90. Residents cited potential water depletion, higher electricity costs, noise pollution and a lack of transparency, but the Belvidere City Council made no formal decision.
An overflow crowd attended a Belvidere City Council discussion about Project Hawkeye, a proposed three-gigawatt hyperscale data center planned near Interstate 90 on Genoa Road. The facility is being developed by Chicago-based DataWatt Energy.
Residents criticized the project and said they were concerned about its potential effects on water supplies, electricity costs, noise and the environment. Some also accused project representatives and others involved in the planning process of keeping the development secret and misleading the public. The council only discussed the proposal and took no formal action.