TOWN OF BELOIT — The Town of Beloit has reportedly entered into a pre-development agreement with the company currently developing a Meta data center in Beaver Dam.
The town apparently signed the pre-development agreement with Cambrin LLC sometime last summer.
According to WKOW-TV, Town Administrator John Malizio provided this statement on behalf of the Town of Beloit:
“The Town of Beloit is committed to responsible and strategic growth done in an open and transparent manner. We understand that information is being disseminated regarding the potential for a data center project at the existing gravel pit on the northeast side of the Town, which our comprehensive plan designates as future industrial use.
“To date, the Town, as it would with any proposed development project, has engaged in very preliminary discussions with the property owners, neighboring municipalities, and Cambrin LLC regarding the Town’s processes, regulations, and timing. Given the substantial due diligence that will likely be involved, and expenses relating thereto, the Town did enter into a pre-development agreement with Cambrin LLC to ensure that the Town’s costs and expenses could be recovered.
“No applications, site plans, or proposals have been submitted to Town staff or elected officials. Just like any project, the Town takes very seriously the potential positive and negative impacts to town residents and our neighbors and, as a result, we look forward to learning about this potential project as details emerge.”
The town of Beloit site is roughly 15 miles south of a proposed data center on the former GM/JATCO property in Janesville.
In November, the Janesville City Council approved by a non-binding letter of intent with Veridisn Partners, who proposes bringing a data center to the city.
Then last month, the Janesville City Council voted to put a direct-legislation ordinance referendum on the November ballot. The ordinance was spearheaded by the grassroots group No Janesville Data Center.
If passed, the ordinance would require a referendum for any development project at the publicly-owned GM/JATCO site with project costs exceeding $450 million.