Former Illinois Steel Mill May Become Data Center

The site of a former steel mill in Alton, Ill., may become a data center if several remaining approvals take place.

Alton Steel Inc. traced its roots to the 1911 founding of Laclede Steel Company. After Laclede went bankrupt, investors led by trial attorney John Simmons revived the 381-acre mill as Alton Steel in 2003. It ceased operations in January, and its board is liquidating assets to pay creditors.

Its owner, J&J Ventures LLC, owned by Simmons and his wife, Jayne, is exploring a deal with data center developer TerraWatt. Simmons and Alton Steel CEO Chris Ervin discussed the plans October 21 with the Alton Telegraph but gave no estimates of investment, jobs, power or water needs or timing.

TerraWatt, a Texas-based developer of electric vehicle charging sites, has not completed any data centers. It is converting a former Macy’s/Famous-Barr warehouse in midtown St. Louis into a 120-megawatt hyperscale data center anchoring a planned $3.1 billion Armory Innovation District. Construction is expected to begin in August 2027, though the project faces lawsuits.

Any sale is contingent on approvals, including a public comment period. JLL is marketing the site, which includes 1.26 million square feet of industrial buildings, an electrical substation, a 5-megawatt solar field, natural gas service, wastewater treatment and rail access. It has no barge docks but sits across the road from the Alton Barge Terminal.

Alton officials said no formal proposal has been filed, and the city plans to hire an outside firm to vet it. TerraWatt will host an open house from 6 to 7:30 p.m. October 27 at the Wedge Building in Alton.

St. Louis has 12 to 18 data centers within city limits and 44 to 56 metro-wide, with three more under construction and 10 in planning.