JANESVILLE — The Janesville City Council on Monday will consider approving a non-binding letter of intent with a developer who proposes bringing a data center to the city.
The letter of intent lays out what developer Veridian Partners needs to learn before entering into a more formal developers agreement. (Read the letter of intent here)
The Council meeting Nov. 10 will be held at 6 p.m. at the Woodman’s Sports & Convention Center because of the expected large crowds. (Read the agenda here)
- Attend in person (2510 Milton Avenue)
- Watch on JATV Media Services
- View online at www.janesvillewi.gov/materials
- Preview the meeting at https://bit.ly/4nIpgc1
There also will be a public comment period during the council meeting prior to discussion of the letter of intent.
Although city administration and some community business leaders have expressed interest in moving forward with the fact-finding stage, a large and vocal number of residents have opposed the plan.
Roughly 300 people turned out Tuesday for an information session hosted by City Manager Kevin Lahner and more that 20 people spoke out against the proposal at the last council meeting.
(Read full data center coverage here)
The city currently is considering the proposal from Veridian Partners to build a data center on the now empty site of the former GM Janesville Assembly Plant on the city’s south side that closed in 2008.
Data centers are expanding rapidly across the country as demand for AI and cloud computing booms.
Residents, along with a grass-roots group No Janesville Data Center have expressed concern about water usage, affect on utility bills, property values, noise pollution and long-term job prospects.
The city has prepared its own initial data center insights at janesvillewi.gov/insights in response.
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