ROCHELLE, Ill. (WTVO) – City leaders in Rochelle recently voted unanimously against a proposed data center. The decision came amid community concerns over potential power and water usage.

The proposed facility would have been built on a 75-acre lot along Steward Drive. Developers had projected the project would create 500 construction jobs and 35 permanent positions. Residents had expressed concerns about the center’s resource demands.

Mayor John Bearrows had spoken out against the center before the vote, sharing his concerns about a potential power shortage.

“I know 38 or 48, whatever megawatts we’re talking about, does not seem like a huge amount. But, I’m going to tell you, I got a hospital we need to be thinking about. I got nursing homes we need to be thinking about and all these other things, they cannot be without power, so somebody can look up Facebook to tell you what they had for dinner,” Bearrows said.

Rochelle city leaders reject proposed data center over resource concerns