ROCHELLE — The Rochelle City Council will consider a development agreement with Midwest Power Investors LLC for a data center planned north of Steward Road, west of the BNSF Railway and south of Interstate 88 next month. The agreement would require the developer to fund up to $4.75 million in electrical improvements, an estimated $3.47 million in water and wastewater infrastructure, and roadway and shared use path improvements along Steward Road. The city would make up to 48 megawatts of electricity available after the electrical improvements are completed. The proposal also includes landscaping, noise reduction and other development requirements. City officials estimate the project could generate more than $1.3 million in annual revenue for Rochelle Municipal Utilities and about $400,000 for the city’s transportation fund. The council rejected an earlier version of the agreement in April 2026. Zach Lamotta, spokesperson for Project Crossroads (data center), spoke before the presentation stating that all expansion plans are withdrawn. He also noted they will be waiving all tiered tax abatement through the Enterprise Zone, potentially contributing an additional $10 million or more to local taxing bodies. However, they may choose to use sale tax and other incentives available through the Lee-Ogle Enterprise Zone.
Lamotta said they fully intend to use a close looped water system, using around 300,000 gallons to fill the system, but daily use would be substantially less than that amount. The water limitations were removed from the original agreement by city officials, in part, to prevent the property from being limited in future development.
Rochelle City Manager Zeke Jackson noted that there is a proposed 15% electric rate increase in 2027 that will be presented in the next budget. These increases, he said, will be occurring regardless of the data center being approved or not.
If approved next month, this project could take three to five years to complete.
