<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3U6kxE_1CjuuSQx00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3U6kxE_1CjuuSQx00" width="640" height="360" ></figure><ul><li>Community members in Lee County and Whiteside County are organizing to prevent a potential data center from being built on the county line, citing concerns about infrastructure and community impact.</li></ul>Community members in Lee County and Whiteside County are organizing to shut down a possible data center on the county line.It all started with an ad for a piece of farmland."They put out an ad for some farmland for sale, and they advertised it as a premier location for a data center," Rock Falls Alderman Marshall Doane said.The Lee County Industrial Development Association (LCIDA) advertised a piece of land east of Rock Falls by Highway 30 as ideal for a data center. They posted a digital flyer from an agricultural real estate broker. One of the listed perks was nearby utilities in Rock Falls."I thought immediately that this might be problematic to our own infrastructure," Doane said.Go deeper with Yahoo ScoutHow do data centers affect local job markets long-term?What regulations govern data center construction in nearby counties?Doane wants to nip any possible data center in the bud. His ultimate goal is a moratorium on data centers, as well as a stricter ordinance that keeps the projects away from his community. "Everybody is concerned about data centers. Those are not very popular things," he said.Typically, organizations and local governments seek to attract data centers for reasons such as generating more tax revenue than farmland and bringing jobs to the community. Even if temporary, those workers may also spend money in the nearby communities during projects that could span multiple years.Morrison Alderwoman Sara Dunne was one of dozens to rally against data centers at a meeting on Thursday, June 25."We want to work as a community," Dunne said.Before public community, Board Chair Bob Olson reminded people that there has not been a project proposed just yet."I believe that puts all of us in a good position right now to work together, to protect our community," Dunne said.And that's what could happen. Olson said the County Services Committee would take up the issue.News 8 reached out to Tom Demmer, president of the LCIDA. Demmer said there isn't a data center proposal right now, but if one comes through, the LCIDA would weigh the pros and cons, just as they do for any industrial project.Right now around the Quad Cities, several other data centers have been proposed or are in the process of being built. QTS has proposed a site in Clinton, Iowa, and is also currently building one in Cedar Rapids. Google is also looking to build in Cedar Rapids but is still waiting on city approval. North of that in Palo, where Google has eyes on a site near the nuclear power plant.Dubuque is also considering a data center ordinance but has no projects currently proposed.</div></body>

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Community members in Lee County and Whiteside County are organizing to prevent a potential data center from being built on the county line, citing concerns about infrastructure and community impact. Community members in Lee County and Whiteside County are organizing to shut down a possible data center on the county...

Lee, Whiteside County residents concerned about data center construction

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Community members in Lee County and Whiteside County are organizing to prevent a potential data center from being built on the county line, citing concerns

Lee, Whiteside County residents concerned about data center construction

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