Overview
- The public hearing began around 5:30 p.m., and as of about 10 p.m. no vote had occurred.
- Developers propose a phased campus of up to 24 buildings, with the first facility targeted for 2028, which would make it the largest data center in Illinois.
- City officials project billions in property tax revenue over 30 years, about 700 permanent jobs, and up to 10,000 construction jobs, and the company pledged $100 million in payments to the city.
- Opponents cited risks to groundwater, strain on the electrical grid with potential bill impacts, and noise, and one resident presented nearly 5,000 petition signatures.
- The Plan Commission previously recommended approval, the site sits near Bernhard and Rowell by the Joliet speedway, and the effort is led by Hillwood Investment Properties and Powerhouse Data Centers with union leaders urging passage.