Janesville council approves LOI with Viridian to study former GM site; 5–2 vote launches 120‑day due diligence

The Janesville City Council on Monday approved a nonbinding letter of intent (file resolution 2025-2394) with Viridian Acquisitions LLC to begin up to 120 days of due diligence on redeveloping the city’s vacant former General Motors/JATCO site as a potential data center campus. The motion passed 5–2, with Councilmembers Miller and Erdmann voting no.

The LOI authorizes a formal due-diligence period during which Viridian will work with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and utilities to refine remediation plans, evaluate power availability and negotiate terms for a potential development agreement. Economic development staff described the LOI as a “letter to learn” that does not bind the city to a sale or construction.

Why it matters: The site is a roughly 240–250‑acre brownfield that has sat vacant since the plant closed; Viridian representatives told the council their team would perform full-site remediation (which they estimated at about $30 million), construct on-site infrastructure and then deliver developable pads. Viridian said the master-plan scenarios range from an eight- to eleven-building campus and cited potential long-term assessed-value gains and up to 600 permanent jobs in the most expansive scenario.

City staff and Viridian disclosed high-level figures during the presentation. Viridian’s presentation estimated a total project cost on the order of $8 billion (about $2 billion as direct construction in their example), remediation costs of around $30 million, and site water-use estimates of roughly 70,400 gallons per day (presenters stressed this is far less than historic GM use). City officials said the LOI is a first step to secure environmental review, power procurement and further community engagement.

Public reaction was sharply divided. More than 70 speakers addressed the council during a packed public-comment period focused solely on the data-center proposal. Opponents raised concerns about potential long-term public-health effects, increases in local energy bills, water consumption, noise and vague or nonbinding developer commitments. “Please do not make hasty decisions driven by fear,” said Emmanuel Martinez, a registered nurse (Emmanuel Martinez) who told the council he was worried about diesel generator emissions, PFAS and other health risks.

Supporters — including local business groups, union representatives and construction employers — said entering an LOI is the responsible way to get technical answers and that remediation and related infrastructure work would create local jobs. Claire Gray of the Janesville Area Chamber told the council the LOI would allow “Viridian to work with the Wisconsin DNR to understand further the level of contamination and allow Viridian to work with Alliant Energy to understand the timetable for delivering power to the site.”

Council debate centered on process and protections. Councilmembers who backed the LOI framed it as a way to force detailed, independent review and to negotiate enforceable terms during the purchase and operating agreement; those opposing the LOI said the city should delay until independent public‑health and environmental assessments are available and expressed distrust of vague language in the developer’s proposal.

Formal action: Councilmember Nino moved to approve the file resolution authorizing the LOI; Councilmember Squire seconded. Roll call: Burdick — yes; Squire — yes; Nino — yes; Williams — yes; Cass — yes; Miller — no; Erdmann — no. The LOI passed 5–2. The city will return to the council with findings from the due-diligence period and any proposed purchase or development agreements for future decisions.

What’s next: City staff said the LOI begins a 120‑day period in which Viridian will conduct environmental investigation, coordinate with DNR on a remediation plan, and work with utilities on power availability; the council and staff also said additional community meetings and independent expert reviews will be scheduled. The LOI itself, council members emphasized, does not commit the city to sell the land or approve construction.

Sources and attribution: Quotes and attributions come from council members, city staff and public commenters who spoke during the Nov. 10 meeting (names and roles are drawn from the meeting record).