A data center using cutting-edge technology that does not require water for cooling and substantially limits demand on the electric grid while regional capacity is upgraded has been recommended for approval by DeKalb’s Planning and Zoning Commission.
The Commission voted unanimously on Dec. 1 to recommend approval of the annexation, rezoning, development plan, building elevations and final plat for the Edged development (Project Vector) by Endeavor Energy, proposed for the City’s southern edge, following a presentation from the Edged team on innovations in cooling and power that would be used to substantially limit the project’s impact.
Water: The Edged data center would not be cooled with evaporative water from DeKalb’s water system. Instead, the center would use waterless chillers with a closed tubing system. Potable water would only be used for employee kitchens and restrooms and other conventional uses.
Electricity: Edged would implement breakthrough technology to dramatically reduce its demand on the electric grid. The center, including its zero-water chillers, would be powered by its TurboCell generators running on natural gas. The generators result in less competition for electricity. At the same time, the equipment operates on clean-fuel natural gas, which produces very low emissions, and the sound emitted is within DeKalb’s and Illinois’ decibel limits. Additionally, the Edged team has developed a new technology for inline decarbonization of natural gas, paving the way for zero carbon energy. The generators would power the center until ComEd upgrades its local infrastructure, ensuring adequate supply for the region. Thereafter, the generators could be used to offset seasonal demand on the electric grid.
Land Use: The City’s 2022 Comprehensive Plan, which was developed with multiple opportunities for public input, designated the site for industrial use. The center would be built in phases with two buildings proposed northeast of Keslinger Road and Route 23 and two buildings northwest of the intersection. The site follows DeKalb County’s long- standing policy that development should happen adjacent to municipalities, minimizing the impact on agricultural areas. Additionally, the Illinois Department of Agriculture found that including the property in the County’s Enterprise Zone would promote compact and contiguous development and that it would be consistent with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s Agricultural Land Preservation Policy and Illinois Farmland Preservation Act.
After site visits to view the Edged technology firsthand, the City is confident the center would embrace best practices for the powering and cooling of data centers. This would make the project a leader in environmental compatibility, while matching local goals for long-term planning.
The proposal will come before the DeKalb City Council on Dec. 8.
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