Rochelle Council to Consider Revised Data Center Agreement

ROCHELLE – The Rochelle City Council will consider a revised development agreement Monday night with Midwest Power Investors, LLC, for a proposed data center north of Steward Road, west of the BNSF Railroad and south of I-88. The agreement calls for Midwest Power Investors to fund up to $4.75 million in electrical improvements, an estimated $3.47 million in water and wastewater infrastructure, and all roadway widening and shared use path improvements along its Steward Road frontage, while requiring the company to purchase electricity from Rochelle Municipal Utilities until its project costs are recovered; the city would make up to 48 megawatts of electricity available, with the facility’s primary building limited to 360,000 square feet. City officials estimate the project would generate more than $1.3 million annually in additional RMU revenue and approximately $400,000 for the Utility Tax Fund, along with additional property tax revenue for local taxing bodies without tiered Enterprise Zone property tax abatements. The council previously rejected a development agreement with the company in April 2026, prompting Midwest Power Investors to return with revised terms addressing concerns raised by council members.