Plan for data center at former GM plant sparks debate over energy consumption in Janesville

JANESVILLE, Wis. (WTVO) — A new data center is proposed to replace a former General Motors auto assembly plant in Janesville, sparking community discussions and concerns over energy usage.

City Manager Kevin Lahner led a community conversation on Tuesday to provide details on the potential development process for the data center. The project is in its early stages, but a letter of intent is expected to be recommended on Monday.

One resident, who has been attending meetings since the beginning, created a Facebook page for community members opposing the center. She expressed concerns about the energy consumption of data centers, stating, “They use a lot… a ridiculous amount of energy. And a lot of times they get looked at through a lens of just this one data center. But they’re not taking into account how many of these data centers are going all throughout Wisconsin, and that this has a much bigger impact than just each individual data center. These are now having a collective impact.”

The Janesville City Council is scheduled to meet on Monday to discuss further plans for the data center. The outcome of this meeting could influence the direction of the proposed project.

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