The arrest of a protester has put a spotlight on a rural Illinois town, where local efforts are underway to promote a large tract of land as a potential data center site. The incident underscores the growing tensions surrounding data center developments across the country.
Harley Delander, a resident of Dixon, approximately two hours outside Chicago, was detained on Wednesday. The local police allege that he made threatening remarks towards Tom Demmer, a former state representative. Demmer now leads a business group aiming to attract data center developers to the area.
Near Dixon, about 10 miles away, the Lee County Industrial Development Association (LCIDA) is marketing a 387-acre plot as an ideal location for data center construction. Demmer, who serves as the association’s president, is at the forefront of this initiative.
Delander shared a video on TikTok about his interaction with law enforcement, which has since received over 250,000 views and numerous supportive comments from viewers.
According to the Dixon Police Department, Delander faces charges of intimidation and stalking. They claim he sent communications to Demmer that raised safety concerns for Demmer and his family. Delander reportedly organized a protest using Demmer’s publicly available address and sent an email urging Demmer to step down from his position, warning, “if you know what’s good for you and your family.” This email was not reviewed by Business Insider.
Delander explained, “What I meant by that was, the sentence prior to that, I said, ‘Your address is public information and I can protest in front of your house all day and night until you gain humanity and ban this data center.'” Delander was arrested about 12 hours later.
James Mertes, Delander’s attorney, emphasized the importance of First Amendment rights in such cases. “We’ll be carefully evaluating the important First Amendment issues that stem from a case of this nature,” he told Business Insider. “Cases involving data center opposition are going to be more prevalent as more and more data centers pop up.”
While it’s unclear if any operators are interested in the site, a brochure from Peoples Company highlights nearby locations where major companies like Meta and Microsoft are developing similar facilities.
Peoples Company
Demmer and a representative for Peoples Company were unavailable for comment.
Nationwide data center backlash
Data centers have become a contentious issue in many communities, where residents often clash with developers over potential impacts. Concerns include rising utility bills, environmental repercussions, and noise levels. Advocates argue that these centers are crucial for economic growth and infrastructure.
In a recent case, a developer withdrew plans for a data center in a New Hampshire town following public opposition and a petition that garnered over 25,000 signatures. Similarly, Utah’s Governor issued an executive order setting new standards for data center projects after public outcry over a proposed facility backed by a prominent investor.
Law enforcement has also taken note. An intelligence report highlighted by Wired indicated an increase in “anti-tech violent extremist activity” as a result of AI advancements.
