Twitter/X

Janesville, WI’s 100-year-old GM factory closed in 2008; the site has been an…

2026-07-15 · 22:28 UTC ·@jasminewsun ·0 min read

Brief

Jasmine Sun reports from Madison and Janesville, WI: Janesville’s 100‑year‑old GM factory closed in 2008 and its site has sat abandoned for about 15 years; a proposed data center there is drawing local skepticism. Sun will spend a week driving across Wisconsin and Michigan, interviewing tradespeople, activists, planners and residents, and writing a story—she’s soliciting questions.

Why it matters

Janesville, WI’s 100-year-old GM factory closed in 2008; the site has been an abandoned lot for roughly 15 years and a proposed data center there is drawing local skepticism.

Key details

  • @jasminewsun is spending a week driving around Wisconsin and Michigan to document the data-center buildout and backlash, visiting sites and interviewing tradespeople, activists, planners, and residents, and she’s soliciting reader questions for her story.
Source evidence

day 1 was Madison and Janesville, WI

the latter town is known for the 100-year old GM factory that devastated the community when it shut down in 2008

it's been an abandoned lot for the last 15 years. now there's a data center being proposed, but some residents are skeptical

jasmine sun (@jasminewsun)

I’m spending the next week driving around Wisconsin and Michigan to get a firsthand view of the data center buildout and backlash

am visiting sites, talking to tons of people — tradespeople, activists, planners, residents — then writing up a story

lmk what questions I should dig into!

— https://nitter.net/jasminewsun/status/2077519592130253200#m