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Author: Mike Hammett

Rochelle Can Grow Smartly – What DeKalb’s Data Centers Teach Us
This or a similar version was submitted to multiple outlets including the Rochelle News-Leader on October 24, 2025.

AI tools were used in the research, drafting, and editing of this article. All factual claims are sourced to primary documents and verified by the author.

Data Centers, Power, and Progress: Lessons from DeKalb’s Experience

Rochelle stands at the doorstep of another wave of technology investment: data centers. Questions about water, energy, and neighborhood impact are natural – but so are the opportunities. Just to our east, DeKalb’s experience shows what happens when these projects are planned with transparency and balance.

Meta’s DeKalb campus brought more than $1 billion in private investment, 1,200 construction jobs, and about 200 permanent positions. The city’s equalized assessed value rose by more than one-third in a single year, allowing both the city and park district to cut their tax rates by over 20 percent while maintaining services. Those changes stabilized bills for residents today and built a stronger revenue base for tomorrow. For a community like Rochelle – with its own municipal utility and a long record of industrial stewardship – that’s a model worth studying.

Quiet neighbors. Rochelle already hosts data centers for Allstate, Northern Trust, and Rochelle Municipal Utilities. They’ve operated quietly and responsibly for more than a decade. Backup generators run only for brief tests or emergencies, and sound enclosures keep noise below residential levels.

Water and environment. Modern facilities focus on efficiency and reuse rather than continuous draw. Major operators have pledged to be water-positive by 2030 – restoring more water to local ecosystems than they consume through reclaimed-water and watershed projects. Preliminary figures discussed publicly place daily use in the tens of thousands of gallons – comparable to other industrial facilities already active in Rochelle’s business parks, such as food processors and distribution centers. Unlike those operations, many data centers can recycle cooling water or switch to air-cooled systems in cooler months.

Power and rates. Northern Illinois is served by ComEd as part of the PJM regional grid, which balances electricity supply and demand across 13 states. When demand rises anywhere in that system, capacity prices tend to rise for all utilities – including Rochelle’s. If we already share those regional cost trends, it makes sense to welcome balanced local projects that bring jobs, tax base, and infrastructure improvements in return.

The proposed load discussed for Rochelle – around 50 megawatts – sounds large but fits comfortably within the city’s available capacity. Rochelle Municipal Utilities already serves major manufacturers, rail operations, and cold-storage facilities whose combined demand is of similar scale. A data center would join that mix as another managed industrial customer, not an unprecedented burden.

Rochelle’s municipal generation gives it a unique advantage. By “peak-shaving” – running local units during the most expensive hours – RMU lowers costs for everyone on its system. RMU Superintendent Blake Toliver has explained that large special-contract customers procure their own energy, and the utility uses market hedging to shield residential rates. Its wholesale-power contract locks in rate stability through 2029, and any new facility would operate under terms that protect ratepayers, according to City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh.

Meanwhile, ComEd’s Kishwaukee Area Reliability Expansion (KARE) project is strengthening the shared backbone between Afton Township and the lines serving Rochelle – investments that improve reliability for homes, schools, and businesses alike.

Planning responsibly. Rochelle has decades of experience balancing industrial growth with community quality of life. The same principles apply here:
- Commission independent noise and water studies.
- Maintain scaled setbacks and visual buffers.
- Be transparent about who funds and maintains utility extensions.
As City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh has said, the city won’t recruit a project that doesn’t benefit the community. That openness is exactly what builds trust.

Most reputable developers already meet or exceed these standards. The key is open communication so residents understand both the real impacts and the real benefits.

As someone who works in Internet and data-center infrastructure right here in Northern Illinois, I have no financial interest in Rochelle’s proposals – only an interest in seeing our region thrive. DeKalb’s success proves that data centers can be quiet neighbors, strong taxpayers, and partners in sustainability. With clear planning and public understanding, Rochelle can do the same – turning cautious curiosity into confident, well-managed growth.

A longer version of this column, with full source citations and supporting documents, will be posted on my LinkedIn page.

Mike Hammett has worked in Internet and data-center infrastructure for more than 20 years and lives in DeKalb County. He has no financial interest in any current data-center proposals.

This article is part of the Data Centers: The Public Record series. View all community impact pieces →
October 24, 2025
Aurora’s Path to Smart Growth – Lessons from DeKalb’s Data-Center Success
This or a similar version was submitted to multiple outlets including the Aurora Beacon-News on October 23, 2025.

AI tools were used in the research, drafting, and editing of this article. All factual claims are sourced to primary documents and verified by the author.

Data Centers, Power, and Progress: What Aurora Can Learn from DeKalb

Aurora earned its name as “The City of Lights” by pioneering electric streetlights more than a century ago – a reminder that forward-thinking investment can shape a city’s future. That same forward-looking spirit continues today as Aurora considers proposals for new data-center developments along the I-88 corridor.

These projects have raised familiar questions about energy use, water demand, and neighborhood impact. Just 25 miles west, DeKalb’s Meta Data Center shows how those concerns can be addressed responsibly.

The DeKalb site represents more than $1 billion in private investment, employed over 1,200 skilled tradespeople during construction, and now supports roughly 200 long-term jobs. Since 2021, Meta has contributed more than $1.2 million to local schools and nonprofits, helping classrooms and community programs alike.

That campus also added over $100 million to DeKalb’s tax base, allowing the city and park district to lower tax rates while expanding services. The result is a stronger, more stable foundation for residents – exactly the kind of balance Aurora seeks as it grows.

Addressing Common Concerns

Quiet operations: Modern data centers are built to blend into their surroundings. Backup generators test briefly each month, and with setbacks, berms, and sound barriers, noise seldom carries beyond the property line. Aurora already hosts several such facilities that have operated quietly for years – proof that technology and livability can coexist.

Water efficiency: Meta designs its facilities to minimize water use and has committed to being water-positive by 2030, meaning it will restore more water to regional watersheds than it consumes through verified conservation projects. These are measurable, not marketing, commitments – and they set a standard any new developer should meet.

Community feedback: Some Aurora residents have voiced concerns about noise, vibration, or infrastructure strain near existing data centers. The city is addressing those issues through its current moratorium and updated code review. It’s worth noting that, compared with traditional manufacturing or logistics uses, data centers are among the cleanest and quietest forms of industrial development – producing little traffic, minimal emissions, and steady tax revenue without day-to-day disruption.

Energy and the Regional Grid

Northern Illinois is part of the PJM Interconnection, a 13-state power market that shares both generation and cost. Whether large campuses rise in Illinois, Ohio, or Virginia, PJM’s wholesale prices move together. Since our region already contributes to those costs, it makes sense to keep the jobs, tax base, and infrastructure investment here at home.

Aurora already benefits from a strong and diverse regional transmission network, providing reliable capacity for residents and businesses alike – an advantage that many nearby communities envy.

Planning Responsibly

Aurora’s current pause on new data-center approvals is an opportunity to learn from nearby communities. A moratorium doesn’t mean “no”; it means “not yet – at least not without the right standards.” By using this time to refine requirements for energy, water, and community benefit, Aurora can emerge stronger and more prepared than peers who rushed ahead.

The city can further build confidence by requiring:
- Independent water and noise studies,
- Thoughtful setbacks and landscaping, and
- Transparency on who funds infrastructure improvements.
Most reputable developers already meet these expectations. With facts on the table, discussion turns from fear to balance – focusing on how growth can serve both community and economy.

A Local Perspective

I live in DeKalb County and work in Internet and data-center infrastructure. I have no financial stake in any Aurora proposals – only a desire to see our region grow responsibly and sustainably.

DeKalb’s experience proves that technology growth, when planned with foresight, can strengthen both communities and public services. Aurora has every opportunity to follow that path – continuing its legacy as The City of Lights by leading with balance, sustainability, and innovation in the digital age.

Mike Hammett has worked in Internet and data-center infrastructure for more than two decades and lives in DeKalb County. He has no financial interest in any current data-center proposals. Readers can connect with him on LinkedIn.

This article is part of the Data Centers: The Public Record series. View all community impact pieces →
October 23, 2025
Batavia Can Grow Smartly – What DeKalb’s Data Centers Teach Us
This or a similar version was submitted to multiple outlets including the Kane County Chronicle on October 22, 2025.

AI tools were used in the research, drafting, and editing of this article. All factual claims are sourced to primary documents and verified by the author.

Planning for Progress – What Batavia Can Learn from DeKalb

Across northern Illinois, communities are deciding how to handle a new wave of digital-infrastructure investment. Batavia is one of them. The pending Hut 8 data-center proposal has prompted questions about power, water, and neighborhood impact – all fair concerns.

Just west of here, DeKalb’s Meta Data Center faced similar questions and shows what responsible planning can accomplish. Meta invested over $1 billion, employed more than 1,200 construction workers, and supports about 200 full-time jobs. Since 2021, it has awarded over $1.2 million in grants to local schools and nonprofits and committed to be water-positive by 2030 – restoring more water to local ecosystems than it consumes.

According to DeKalb County officials, Meta’s 2024 assessment added about $103 million to the county’s taxable base, helping lower the property-tax rate while maintaining services. Evidence from DeKalb suggests that, when planned well, data centers can strengthen local finances rather than strain them.

Batavia’s Local Advantage

Unlike most suburbs, Batavia operates its own municipal electric utility, giving residents a direct voice in how major users connect to the grid, what infrastructure they help fund, and what standards govern reliability.

Because Batavia purchases wholesale power and manages its own substations and feeders, each new industrial load requires coordination – but that’s a strength. Through the Northern Illinois Municipal Power Agency (NIMPA) – whose members are Batavia, Geneva, and Rochelle – the city already collaborates regionally to secure long-term power and reliability. That cooperative model shows how municipal utilities can manage large projects responsibly.

Learning from Nearby Examples

Batavia’s pending Hut 8 proposal isn’t a done deal – it’s an opportunity to apply what our neighbors have already learned. DeKalb proved that clear expectations and cooperation can turn questions into long-term community gains.

Aurora, just to the south, has seen both sides of the story. Established campuses operated by CyrusOne, Edged, and others brought investment, but after rapid early growth the city paused new approvals to address resident concerns – showing the value of transparency early in the process.

To the east, West Chicago’s SBA Edge campus (formerly New Continuum) anchors the same ComEd and fiber corridor that serves Batavia. It operates quietly and reliably, illustrating that these facilities can coexist with neighborhoods when they’re sited and managed well.

Together, these lessons give Batavia the benefit of hindsight – the chance to plan once and get it right.

Addressing Common Concerns

Noise: Modern data centers are remarkably quiet. Backup generators run only brief monthly tests or during rare outages, and sound is buffered through setbacks, berms, and enclosures.

Water and Local Oversight: The proposed Batavia facility won’t have the water-use problems people often fear. The city required a closed-loop cooling system that recycles water and capped use at 1,000 gallons per day – roughly a few households’ worth. Officials say the impact on Batavia’s system will be minimal, and consumption will be monitored under the operating agreement. If managed as proposed, Batavia can capture the economic upside without added measurable strain on its water supply.

Fairness: When planned properly, large projects fund most of the infrastructure they need – feeders, roads, and utility extensions – so homeowners aren’t left paying for them.

Understanding the Power Equation

Northern Illinois is part of the PJM Interconnection, a 13-state regional grid that shares both generation and costs. Whether a large campus is built in Ohio, Virginia, or Illinois, those wholesale prices ripple across all PJM states.

Since Batavia ratepayers already share those regional costs, it makes sense to keep some of the benefits here – local jobs, tax revenue, and utility investment. A responsibly sized project like Hut 8 won’t reshape the grid overnight, but it can improve local reliability and spread fixed costs across a broader base.

Planning Responsibly

Public caution is healthy. These facilities are large and technical, and they deserve careful review. But the technology itself isn’t the problem – it’s how we plan for it.

Batavia can set the standard by requiring:
- Independent studies for water and noise impacts,
- Scaled setbacks and landscape buffers, and
- Transparent cost-sharing plans for utility upgrades.
When expectations are clear and public, projects move forward with less controversy and greater benefit.

A Local Perspective

I live in DeKalb County and work in Internet and data-center infrastructure. I have no financial stake in any current proposal; my interest is seeing our region grow responsibly.

DeKalb’s experience shows that technology and community can coexist. With thoughtful planning and open communication, Batavia can do the same – strengthening its tax base, improving reliability, and ensuring environmental accountability without losing the character that defines the city.

Mike Hammett lives in DeKalb County and has over 20 years of experience in Internet and data-center infrastructure. He has no financial interest in current data-center proposals.

This article is part of the Data Centers: The Public Record series. View all community impact pieces →
October 22, 2025