ROCKFORD, IL — Here’s what you need to know as plans are in the works to bring a new data center to Rockford:
Who is proposing the project?
Monarch Energy of San Diego
How could the data center benefit Rockford?
The data center could bring as much as $12 billion worth of investment to Rockford, which would be the largest private investment in the region’s history.
The data center could also bring jobs to the area, both to build the project and to work there when the project is complete.
Where would the Rockford data center be located?
The data center is planned for 1,100 acres of land south of the Chicago Rockford International Airport that is zoned industrial.
Other industrial users could also locate in the industrial park alongside a data center.
What resources does the Rockford data center need?
Monarch Energy CEO and co-founder Ben Alingh said the company was attracted to the site because of Illinois’ abundant electrical resources and its proximity to the Bryon Nuclear Generating Station, which provides reliable electricity.
Alingh said since Rockford annexed the land years ago, it has already brought water and sewer lines to the property to prepare it for development.
Monarch Energy says it is working to forge a deal with ComEd to bring large amounts of electricity to the site and with so far unnamed data center operators that would look to be operational in 2028.
The property has a large ComEd electrical transmission line adjacent to the site. Another large transmission line is located about a mile away that could bring additional capacity there.
When could construction start on the Rockfor data center?
Construction could start in late 2026 or spring 2027, if the project is approved.
What Rockford officials say about the proposed data center?
Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara said he and other elected officials are supportive of the project and what it could mean for the city and region.
McNamara said there are legitimate concerns that some data centers consume too much power and water. But he said that will depend on the end user and the specific design they propose. He said some large data centers produce most of their own power and are developing technologies that utilize less water for cooling.
Region 1 Planning Council Executive Director Mike Dunn Jr. said voracious consumer demand for digital shopping, web meeting applications, streaming videos and artificial intelligence is driving the need for data centers across the nation.
Although that demand could inevitably drive up electricity costs, Dunn said building a data center in Rockford would allow the region to also reap the benefits. That includes more jobs and an expanded tax base that could mean less burden on property owners and more money for schools and parks.
Jeff Kolkey writes about government, economic development and other issues for the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached via email at jkolkey@rrstar.com and on X @jeffkolkey.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: What to know about $12B data center planned for Rockford
Reporting by Jeff Kolkey and Jane Fosberry Enos, Rockford Register Star / Rockford Register Star
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