Solar field, data center developer says DeKalb build would occupy land for up to 25 years

DeKALB – The developer behind a proposal that seeks to allow for a solar field with a data center on 30 acres along Peace Road in DeKalb made a pitch to an advisory panel this week.

Donato Solar had submitted a concept plan for a 4-megawatt solar energy system and what the company is calling a “boutique data center” to occupy existing farmland at 1199 N. Peace Road, right between Greenwood Acres and Challenger drives.

In representing Donato Solar at the DeKalb Planning Zoning Commission meeting was Nick Mahoney, who made a pitch to the panel for the development’s concept plans.

“We are very open to working with the ... city here, making sure that everything is up to your standards,” Mahoney said. “Currently, it is within the zoning jurisdiction but is not currently zoned within the master plan here.”

Donato Solar wants city permission to annex and rezone the land.

Mahoney said unlike like the Meta DeKalb Data Center, Donato Solar is proposing a smaller, standalone data center.

He said he anticipates very little foot traffic to and from this development.

Mahoney said the company intends to occupy the land for up to 25 years and the development would include a decommissioning plan, if approved.

DeKalb resident Elizabeth Kueny asked what type of batteries may be carried by the development.

Mahoney said they are Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries.

“That’s kind of the leading category,” Mahoney said. “Although to your point, that is an evolving field. There’s lots of new battery technologies that are constantly being released. But these ones, in particular, are the most stable and have fairly high energy density.”

Kueny questioned what type of fire suppression system the development would have.

Mahoney said a decision hasn’t made been yet about whether the fire suppression system for the data center should be water or chemical-based.

“They’re all self-contained,” Mahoney said. “They’re all fire proof in that sense. There’s very little risk of that happening. On top of that, we have a very, very robust [operations and maintenance] package. ... All of these batteries are under warranty for 10 years by the manufacturer. They come out and they’re constantly doing maintenance on them.”

No action from the Planning and Zoning Commission was necessary this week.

The city said future communication may go out to residents to schedule a public hearing on the developer’s annexation and rezoning requests. City Council approval also is required.