The Byron Clean Energy Center, nestled in the heart of Ogle County, Illinois, may soon become more than just a nuclear power plant. Surrounded by hundreds of acres of farmland, the plant’s location could soon be part of a new development trend as the tech industry looks for reliable, large-scale power sources.
In August 2024, the Ogle County Board approved a rezoning request by Constellation Energy, the owner of the Byron plant, to change 524 acres of land from agricultural to industrial use. This move signals the company’s interest in attracting major tech firms, which require vast amounts of energy to run their operations.
The decision mirrors Constellation Energy’s recent efforts to partner with big tech. In September 2024, Constellation signed an agreement with Microsoft to restart the Three Mile Island nuclear plant to power AI data centers.
Bruce Larson, Chairman of the Ogle County Board, believes the area could be ideal for such a project. “The area looks good for such a project,” he said, referring to the potential for an AI data center to be developed at the Byron site. While no concrete decisions have been made, Larson confirmed that the possibility of a data center is being seriously considered.
Colocation: Pairing Nuclear Plants with Data Centers
If a tech company moves forward with building a data center at the Byron plant, it would be part of a growing trend of “colocation.” This practice pairs nuclear power plants with data centers to meet the rising demand for electricity. By connecting data centers directly to nuclear plants, the life of these facilities can be extended while providing reliable power to large-scale tech operations.
Constellation Energy highlights the benefits of such pairings on its website, noting that it helps meet the power needs of data centers while benefiting both the environment and utility customers.
With companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta investing heavily in AI, electricity consumption is soaring. A typical data center campus can consume as much power as 700,000 homes at peak demand. For comparison, the Byron nuclear plant generates enough electricity to power 1.7 million homes.
Community Reactions: Opportunity or Challenge?
Local residents are both curious and cautious about the potential impact of a tech development in their area. Tyler Lathrop, a resident of nearby Dixon, expressed mixed feelings. “Obviously, the jobs are nice to go with it, but what could come of it?” Lathrop said, acknowledging the unknowns associated with the project.
Constellation Energy has confirmed that no final decision has been made regarding the development of the 524-acre site. However, the prospect of new construction, especially a data center, brings optimism to the community.
“I think it could be nice if it brings more people and bigger companies to the area,” Lathrop added.
Byron’s Mayor John Rickard also noted that while nothing is set in stone, the possibility of a new project has sparked economic excitement. “Even the potential of it could be very beneficial,” he said.
