Rochelle city council delays vote on data center amid community concern

The Rochelle City Council voted 4-3 to table a development agreement with LFF Industrial, operating as Midwest Power Investors LLC, for a proposed data center in Rochelle, Illinois, following an hour-long debate on Monday night. The decision came amid significant community concerns, notably from lifelong resident and environmental educator Megan Sneyd, who was the sole public speaker. Sneyd questioned the project's job creation, its impact on housing for construction workers, and especially its environmental footprint, citing concerns about resource consumption. Interim City Manager Sam Tesreau outlined that the nearly 200-acre facility, located north of Steward Road, east of the BNSF railroad, and south of I-88, would require 48MW upon completion of its first phase, eventually expanding beyond 150MW. LFF Industrial committed to covering $4,043,900 in initial electrical improvements and $2.8 million for water and sewer infrastructure, as the facility is projected to consume up to 50,000 gallons of water daily. Community members had previously voiced worries about potential strain on local electric and water resources. Mayor John Bearrows expressed his reservations, particularly about the agreement's inclusion of phases two and three, which would necessitate future votes, and the project's heavy reliance on Rochelle Municipal Utilities' (RMU) electrical supply, potentially exhausting the city's leftover capacity after phase one. Council member Bil Hayes motioned to delay the vote, which passed, with Mayor Bearrows' "no" vote signaling his belief that further debate time was unnecessary. The timeline for the proposal's return to a vote remains unclear, but residents like Sneyd view the delay as an opportunity to rally further opposition.