This story first appeared in our sister publication, the Janesville News Report.
JANESVILLE — A data center in the southern Wisconsin city of Janesville could be a billion dollar project, according to one city official, but residents are demanding to know what’s in it for them.
An overflow crowd showed up Monday night before the Janesville City Council to express their opposition to the possibility of a data center on the former GM site that closed in 2008.
Several called for a referendum on any possible data center project.
“The middle of residential neighborhoods is not the right place for an industrial park or a data center,” Cassandra Pope said. “We need to do better.”
Pope was one of roughly two dozen residents to speak against the project. Two people, representing Forward Janesville, urged the council to continue to the process of considering the proposals.
LISTEN TO THE PUBLIC COMMENTS HERE
According to City Manager Kevin Lahner, the city has received two proposals and is considering whether to move forward with a letter of intent with one of the two companies or rejecting them outright.
“The project could be valued at more than $1 billion and create hundreds of jobs,” Lahner said. (7 minute mark of the video HERE)
A letter of intent is used to confirm serious interest between parties before moving into any binding agreements or detailed due diligence, according to the city.
Speakers at the council meeting expressed a variety of concerns, from lack of transparency from the city to possible negative environmental impacts.
The impact on electricity rate payers, water usage, sound pollution and the lack of long-term jobs were the most frequently stated concerns.
In a response posted Tuesday morning following the meeting, the city provided its own list of what it called data center fact or fiction, disputing a number of residents’ claims. READ THE LIST HERE
At the city council meeting on Monday, Nov. 10, city staff will present the council and community with the results of the RFP process.
This presentation would include a recommendation on whether the city should proceed with the exploration of a data center development for the site.
