Monolith and Crusoe data center at Olive Creek campus (Hallam)
Also called: Olive Creek data center
Monolith, a carbon black maker, and AI company Crusoe plan a 35-megawatt data center on 10 acres of Monolith's Olive Creek site in Hallam. It would use up to 30 container-size units. The Village Board approved it on October 5, 2026. Crusoe agreed to pay the village $160,000 when building starts, $1 million when it opens, then $150,000 a year for 10 years.
Where things stand: Hallam Village Board approved a special use permit on October 5, 2026. Build dates not announced.
🕒 Latest update (Oct 5, 2026): Hallam Village Board unanimously approved a special use permit for the data center.
What we know
- 📍 WhereMonolith's Olive Creek campus in Hallam, near the Sheldon power station, about 25 miles southwest of Lincoln, Hallam, Lancaster County
- 🏢 CompanyMonolith with Crusoe
- 👤 Built forCrusoe
- 🌳 Size10 acres
- ⚡ Power it needs35 megawatts (about as much as 28,000 homes)
- ❄️ Coolingair cooling or closed-loop cooling
- 👷 Jobs promised15
❓ Still unanswered
Nobody has answered these in public yet. Can you help find out?
- How much water will it use? The company said 770,000 gallons a year or less. 🙋 I'll find out
- When will construction start? 🙋 I'll find out
- Are later phases planned that would need new votes? 🙋 I'll find out
- Where will the three batteries on site be, and how far are they from homes? 🙋 I'll find out
What happened so far
- July 16, 2026Hallam Planning Commission heard Monolith's data center plan.
- July 23, 2026More than 200 residents came to a town hall with questions about water, noise and light.
- Aug 2026The Village Board delayed its vote.
- Oct 5, 2026Hallam Village Board unanimously approved a special use permit for the data center.
Local votes and rules
✅ Approved
The village board unanimously approved a special use permit for a 35-megawatt data center on 10 acres at Monolith's Olive Creek site. A community deal includes $1 million when it opens, $150,000 a year for 10 years, and money for the volunteer fire department.
An aerial photo of the area.
Where this comes from
- Hallam residents question Monolith data center proposal at packed town hall · WOWT · July 24, 2026
- 'We need to embrace it': Hallam commission hears data center plans · Nebraska Public Media · July 16, 2026
- Hallam local says town is becoming an 'industrial war zone' amid data center proposals · KOLN 10/11 · Aug 28, 2026
- Hallam Village Board approves zoning rights for data center · KOLN 10/11 · Oct 6, 2026
- Hallam Village Board unanimously approves Monolith data center · Nebraska Public Media · Oct 6, 2026
See something wrong? Tell us and we'll fix it.