A proposed data center in DeKalb’s industrial district has been approved by the DeKalb City Council.
The project is proposed by Endeavour Energy, a company that says it’s creating a network of "sustainable" data centers that reduce water use and lessen demand on the power grid.
Supporters emphasized the potential for the project to bring in millions in tax revenue and jobs to the area.
Residents near the South Pointe Greens subdivision shared concerns during a public hearing on Dec. 8, 2025 about the potential noise impact of the project.
During public comment, others mentioned concerns about the environmental impact of the project on area wildlife.
You can watch the meeting here (company presentation and public comments begin around 1:30.00 mark.)
According to city documents, the site comprises approximately 560 acres of the ChicagoWest Business Center. Edged is a Division of Endeavour Energy. Edged is focused on “co-location” and rents space to what are known as “hyperscale” cloud providers such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Google.
Former Mayor Jerry Smith spoke first in support of the project, saying it has been years in the making.
“I recall," he said, "in early 2020 when after having visited with a site selection committee in downtown Chicago, not knowing who they were representing, but we were armed with a community playbook outlining this city's positive potential. A couple of months later, [the] City Manager walked into my office and said, ‘Guess who's coming to DeKalb? Facebook.’”
Smith said Meta’s investment has served as a catalyst for other companies to build in the industrial area over the past five years.
"Decisions are not easy," Smith told the council. "All of you know that. But as we look back on where we were, where we are and where this latest chapter in positive economic development will take us, I urge you to approve the recommendation of your Planning and Zoning Commissioner and of your City Manager."
Michelle McGill lives in the South Pointe Greens subdivision. She told the council during public comment that she doesn’t oppose the project entirely.
“I just think it's poorly placed next to a residential area,” she said. “Our neighborhood's going to endure the noise, lights and traffic because of the data center.”
She says constant noise from the data center could cause stress, anxiety and sleep disruption for residents who live near it.
“I just want to make sure," she said, "that there's a guarantee that residents are going to be able to voice their concerns, even after this meeting tonight.”
She also requested higher berms be built into the proposal to further isolate the neighborhood from the data center.
Kathy Stelford with Oaken Acres Wildlife Center asked the council to be mindful of eagle populations near the proposed construction site.
“I've always wanted to at least be a voice for wildlife," Stelford said, "and tell you that these are your neighbors too.”
Some who spoke to the council voiced concerns that the vote was rushed and requested more research about the company and the facility's potential energy usage. Others made requests to delay the vote to allow more time to address additional questions from the public.
Others spoke in favor of the local labor jobs the project is projected to create.
City Manager Bill Nicklas spoke after public comment and before the aldermen made their votes.
“Whether spoken on the basis of fear or fact," he said, "I think it’s safe to say that all speakers tonight are agreed that the approval of this project would bring change."
“An outside observer," he added, "might question if we in DeKalb have the skill, imagination or governing ethic to lead us to a good result. Sadly, a number of internal observers have mentioned that tonight.”
He pointed to an online petition that he says has enlivened discussion around data centers, but he says included people from outside of the region who haven't taken time, he said, to engage the city or attend the public meeting.
"We're not afraid of reaching down into the details of this proposed data center to find out if there is promise for our community, and we've done that," Nicklas said. "And we've shared that information, and we've gone out of state, and we've looked around to see if the words are represented in what we're seeing."
Alderman Justin Carlson has been on the council for seven months and acknowledged that not all constituents will agree with his vote.
"I have to do what's best for DeKalb, and I have to look everybody in the eye and make that decision," he said. "This is the biggest decision I've ever made, and I believe we should do this. I believe it is a great opportunity, and I believe it's the momentum I've been talking about. Let's keep building and keep making this city great."
The final vote was unanimous. Alderman Tracy Smith was absent.
- Jess Savage contributed to this report
