Announced

Project Hawkeye

Project Hawkeye is an announced data center project in Belvidere, IL, backed by Datawatt Energy. Proposed site outside Belvidere city limits on Genoa Road near I-90, Boone County. Discussions between Belvidere and Chicago-based Datawatt Energy ongoing since late 2024; a pledge/reimbursement agreement was finalized May 2026, but no formal zoning proposal filed yet. Company materials reference a very large (multi-GW) facility with a 500MW fuel cell component, unconfirmed and preliminary.

https://frattaloneco.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Project-Hawkeye.jpg

Project status

Announced
Permitting
Under constructionNot yet
OperationalNot yet

Recorded changes

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Community sentiment

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What’s next

Election Day is in 11 days.

Tuesday, November 3
Election Day
Monday, November 27:00 AM · IL
Boone County: Board Of Commissioners
Tuesday, November 3IL
Illinois Voters Weigh Data Center Referendums On November Ballot

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Records and documentation

Illinois state legislation

ICC Docket Nos. 25-0677/25-0679 (Consolidated) - ComEd Large Demand Project Applicant/Customer (LDPAC) TariffApprovalicc.illinois.govComEd tariff creating a formal "Large Demand Project Applicant/Customer" class for data centers/large loads ≥50MW, approved March 2026 with graduated security deposits ($1M for 50-200MW, +$500k per additional 100MW). Cites 75+ pending large-load interconnection requests totaling 28,000+MW, exceeding ComEd's all-time system peak.Download
Project Vector Annexation and Development AgreementCommunity benefits agreementfas.orgAnnexation and development agreement setting terms for the 'Project Vector' data center development in DeKalb, Illinois.Download
HB2756 - Data Center Cost-Shifting Protection ActLegislationdatacenterbans.comProtects ratepayers from cost-shifting caused by data centers.Download
SB2181 - Illinois Data Center Energy and Water Reporting ActLegislationdatacenterbans.comRequires all data centers to annually report energy and water consumption beginning January 1, 2026.Download
SB58 - Sales and Use Tax Law exemption for certified data center facilitiesLegislationdatacenterbans.comCreates sales/use tax exemptions for certified data center facilities.Download
SB57 - Large-Load Data CentersLegislationdatacenterbans.comRegulates large-load data centers.Download
HB2026 - Data center industrial zoning ordinance review requirementLegislationdatacenterbans.comRequires localities to review and amend zoning ordinances for data centers under industrial zoning rules.Download
HB1301 - Limits data center electricity cost risk and imposes moratoriumMoratoriumdatacenterbans.comLimits costs/risks associated with data center electricity use and imposes a moratorium.Download
Data Center Zoning OrdinanceOrdinancewandtv.comLogan County, Illinois zoning ordinance for data centers, approved by the board June 1, 2026.Download
SB4206 - LOC GOVT-DATA CENTERLegislationlegiscan.comIn committee May 18, 2026Description comingDownload
HB5755 - MUNI CD-DATA CENTER REFERENDUMLegislationlegiscan.comIn committee May 5, 2026Description comingDownload
SB4016 - HYPERSCALE DATA CENTERSLegislationlegiscan.comAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Karina Villa May 30, 2026Description comingDownload
SB3761 - DATA CENTERS-VARIOUSLegislationlegiscan.comIn committee May 22, 2026Description comingDownload
SB0094 - DATA CENTERS-FOREIGN OWNERSHIPLegislationlegiscan.comAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Terri Bryant Apr 3, 2025Description comingDownload
SB3830 - DATA CENTERS-VARIOUSLegislationlegiscan.comIn committee May 22, 2026Description comingDownload
SB3578 - DATA CENTERS-FOREIGN OWNERSHIPLegislationlegiscan.comAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Darby A. Hills Jul 1, 2026Description comingDownload
HB5513 - HYPERSCALE DATA CENTERSLegislationlegiscan.comAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Suzanne M. Ness Aug 26, 2026Description comingDownload
SB4203 - DCEO-DATA CENTERSLegislationlegiscan.comAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Erica Harriss Jun 17, 2026Description comingDownload

Site details

Operator: Datawatt Energy
County: Boone County, IL
Address: Belvidere, IL
Stage: Announced

Capacity and size: not on file

Map

Photos

Renderinghttps://frattaloneco.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Project-Hawkeye.jpg
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