Xavier Lee is the owner of what is most likely Bloomington’s only “Yes to Data Centers” sign.
“It makes sense that it’s the only sign you’ve seen. I got it made myself using AI, which some people have called out,” he said.
Lee is a Bloomington native and works at Rivian in inbound logistics, ensuring the efficiency of the electric automaker's supply and delivery lines. He decided to post the sign in his yard on Fairway Drive in response to the signs found in the Twin Cities and McLean County speaking out against the large-scale projects.
Lee clarified he is not speaking on behalf of Rivian.
“I saw so much vitriol that I didn’t think was warranted,” Lee said. “I thought a lot of it was based more on misinformation, bad information, exaggeration…”
“…so, I decided I’d say, hey, there’s another side out there, and put my sign out there. I got four extra of them, too, if anybody wants one. Got a bulk deal.”
Lee figured the sign could at least prove to anyone passing by it that the vocal opposition to data centers is not necessarily unanimous. He also hoped speaking up about the sign could lay off some of the heat of the debate and clear up online rumors.
“Everyone’s assuming that the mayor or big data are paying me directly, which would be great. I’d love a little help with the mortgage, but no,” he said.
Speaking on a difficult issue
Lee has seen opposition to his sign in his personal circles as well. Friends and family have told him they want the sign down, for one reason or another.
“My family’s horrified. They said, ‘Oh, you’re going to get canceled, man,’” he said. “I was like, alright. Whatever.”
A friend told Lee his sign would not last longer than three days. Maybe someone would steal it or egg the house, like his coworker joked about doing.
Lee said that has not happened yet, but he thinks someone has messed with the sign.
“I was walking my dog sometime last week, and I usually walk early in the morning, and when I went to clean up for work, the sign was there,” said Lee. “And when I came back out, it was laying down and seemed like it maybe had been stomped on.”
The sign, still the same one in Lee’s yard, looks as though someone stomped directly in its center, according to him.
“The metal stand was all twisted up in a way I don’t think weather would have accounted for, but I just straightened it back up, put it back up,” he said.
Lee said he was not surprised the sign stoked a reaction. In fact, he expected one, like that of any other political sign. Despite the backlash and speaking about it publicly, Lee said he does not worry about putting a target on his back.
“I have to think that the vast majority of people are more level-headed than to see that sign and want to somehow do me harm, or my property or anything like that,” he said. “My friends and family all know that I’m a little outspoken in some stuff I believe… I don’t care what the strangers think.”
Lee said the sign is his way of being a part of the data center conversation and he will not be leading the banner to bring a data center to the area. He said when he speaks to his friends and family on the issue, he tells them to look at it for themselves.
Why ‘Yes’ to data centers
Communities near working data centers warn of problems including, but not limited to, pollution of many kinds like water and noise, and increased utility bills. These are some of the key reasons prospective communities, such as McLean County, oppose them now.
For his individual research, Lee said he supports them for increased property tax revenue and local jobs. Those are the reasons listed on his sign, too.
“And I think the main reason that I would lean in favor of it is that I personally drive an electric vehicle, I work for an electric vehicle manufacturer and I know if you want to decarbonize the grid, do whatever to expand electricity usage, you have to expand the infrastructure,” said Lee.
Lee said he wants to see data centers be a part of the infrastructure upgrades needed in Illinois and across the country for energy grids.
“It’s in desperate need of modernization and I think data center money is one of those things that can help tie in, assuming, of course, that a contract with a data center provider to build data centers includes provisions that they obviously pay for their electricity,” he said.
Lee said he does not believe data centers come with no downsides, but he does not believe they outweigh possible pros.
As for further regulation, like that in the state’s unpassed POWER Act, Lee said he is for small government. A data center paying for its own construction and utility costs is enough, according to him.
“I’m willing to entertain the possibility that I’m wrong myself, but I just don’t think I am — as no one does,” he said.
The City of Bloomington is hosting a public forum on data centers at 5 p.m. Aug. 26 at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts. It will feature a panel of data center experts.
