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Viridian data center proposal at former GM/JATCO site (Janesville)

Viridian Acquisitions proposed an $8 billion, 800-megawatt data center campus with 11 buildings at the old GM plant site. After strong public opposition, the city ended talks in June 2026. Voters will still decide a ballot question about the site on Nov. 3, 2026.

✔ ConfirmedSourceLast checked: Oct 7, 2026

Where things stand: The city council let the letter of intent expire in June 2026.

🕒 Latest update (June 2026): The city council voted unanimously to let the letter of intent with Viridian expire.

What we know

  • 📍 WhereFormer General Motors / JATCO plant site on Janesville's south side, Janesville, Rock County
  • 🏢 CompanyViridian Acquisitions
  • ⚡ Power it needs800 megawatts (about as much as 640,000 homes)
  • 💵 Cost$8 billion
  • 🤐 Secret deal (NDA)Yes. City officials signed a secret deal (NDA) with Viridian Acquisitions in September 2025.

What happened so far

  • Sept 2025
    The City of Janesville signed an NDA with Viridian Acquisitions.
  • Feb 9, 2026
    The city council put a citizen initiative on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot that would require voter approval for big projects at the GM/JATCO site.
  • June 2026
    The city council voted unanimously to let the letter of intent with Viridian expire.

Local votes and rules

🗳️ Public vote

Janesville voters will decide on November 3, 2026 whether big projects (over $450 million) at the old GM/JATCO site need voter approval. Residents put it on the ballot through a petition during the data center fight. The city ended data center talks with Viridian in June 2026.

Nov 3, 2026

✋ Turned down

Janesville's City Council voted unanimously to let its letter of intent with Viridian Acquisitions expire, ending talks on an $8 billion data center at the old GM plant site.

June 2026
🛰️ See it from above

An aerial photo of the area.

We only know the town, so this shows the town center, not the exact site. Photos: USGS The National Map.

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Where this comes from

  1. Janesville, Wisconsin, voters to decide Nov. 3, 2026, initiative requiring approval for development projects exceeding $450 million at GM/JATCO site · Ballotpedia News · Feb 12, 2026
  2. Janesville scraps data center plans with Viridian Acquisitions · Spectrum News 1 · June 25, 2026
  3. At least four Wisconsin communities signed secrecy deals for data centers · Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service / Wisconsin Watch · Feb 1, 2026

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