A Win for Pekin, Illinois The Data Center Is (For Now) Dead

On March 9, 2026, Pekin Mayor Mary Burress announced at a city council meeting that the city would not move forward with the proposed Western Hospitality Partners data center, a 321-acre AI and technology campus planned for the Lutticken Farm property north of town. The announcement drew applause from a crowd that had packed city hall and spilled into the lobby for weeks of public comment, voicing concerns about noise pollution, electricity costs, and the project's fit for the community. Burress put it plainly: "When a project creates this level of uncertainty and division, it is important for us to step back and consider whether moving forward is truly the right path." Four of six council members have publicly stated their opposition as well.

We are proud to have represented the Central Illinois Data Center Opposition in this fight, and we extend our sincere congratulations to every resident, business owner, and community member who showed up, spoke out, and refused to be ignored. This outcome is a direct result of organized, persistent civic engagement. The kind that reminds local government who it actually answers to. We say "for now" deliberately: the developer's due diligence period has been extended, the contract has not yet been formally terminated, and WHP could still file a zoning application. This is not the moment to stand down. But it is absolutely the moment to celebrate

Jonathan Phillips is a founding partner at Phillips & Bathke, P.C. in Peoria, Illinois. Among other areas of practice, his practice includes assisting those affected by large scale energy infrastructure and data centers.