Overview
- The council voted with only one dissent to advance the 795-acre Joliet Technology Center, moving to approval within minutes of convening as Mayor Terry D’Arcy backed the measure.
- The campus is slated for farmland near Rowell and Bernhard roads by the Chicagoland Speedway, with plans for 24 buildings across what developers say would be an approximately 795–800 acre site.
- Supporters promote a reported $20 billion investment with projections of $2.1 billion in local tax revenue over 30 years, thousands of construction jobs, and about 700 permanent positions.
- Developers pledged $100 million in direct payments for city improvements such as sidewalks and streets, with officials emphasizing long-term fiscal benefits for local taxing bodies.
- Residents voiced ongoing concerns about water use, electricity demand, noise and traffic, submitting nearly 5,000 petition signatures as ComEd stated bills would not rise and the developer said no cooling water would be required and initial operations are targeted for 2030.