Daily Digest — March 20, 2026
Joliet Approves 795-Acre Data Center Despite Heated Opposition
The Joliet City Council voted 8-1 to approve the Joliet Technology Center, a 795-acre data center project developed by Hillwood and PowerHouse Data Centers, according to Shaw Local. The vote followed a six-and-a-half-hour public hearing. Councilwoman Suzanna Ibarra cast the lone dissenting vote.
The project, located near the Chicagoland Speedway, will include four sub-campuses with 24 two-story buildings totaling over 6.9 million square feet, as reported by CBS News. Key details:
- **Power consumption:** 1.8 gigawatts at full capacity
- **Construction start:** Early 2027
- **First sub-campus completion:** 2028
- **Full buildout:** 2032
- **Jobs:** 7,000–10,000 construction; 700 permanent
- **Projected tax revenue:** $2.1 billion for all taxing bodies over 30 years; $100 million additional from Hillwood to the city
Residents raised concerns about water depletion, noise, and electricity costs, with some opponents escorted out during the heated session, according to FOX 32 Chicago. ComEd officials assured that the facility's energy demands would not raise rates for existing customers, per CBS News. PJM, the regional transmission organization, indicated no concerns about power availability.
Joliet OKs 795-acre data center
Shaw Local
Joliet moving forward with plans for massive data center
CBS Chicago
Joliet City Council approves plans for Illinois' largest data center
CBS News
Heated moments in Joliet City Council meeting as data center approved
FOX 32 Chicago
Joliet OKs controversial 795-acre data center
Shaw Local
Ohio Group Proposes Constitutional Amendment to Ban Large Data Centers
A rural Ohio group called "Adams County for Responsible Development" has submitted a petition to the Ohio Attorney General's office proposing a constitutional amendment that would ban data centers using more than 25 megawatts of power, according to WOUB Public Media.
The group says local officials in Adams and Brown Counties failed to address their concerns, citing non-disclosure agreements that prevented transparency about proposed projects. Petitioners also raised concerns about the Ohio EPA's consideration of a general permit that would allow a "lowering of water quality" for economic development.
Attorney General Dave Yost has until March 26 to assess the petition's accuracy. If approved by Yost and the Ohio Ballot Board, the group would need to collect 413,446 valid signatures by July 1 to place the amendment on the November ballot.
$500M+ Land Deal in Luzerne County, PA, Clears Path for QTS Data Center Campus
Blackstone-owned QTS has acquired approximately 1,700 acres from 96 landowners in Salem Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, for more than $500 million, according to FOX 56. The transaction is one of the largest coordinated land acquisitions for data center development in the U.S.
The planned campus will include 12 to 17 data centers, sited near an existing Amazon project and the Salem Nuclear Power Plant. Salem Township supervisors have already approved the project, and construction could begin as early as fall 2026, as also reported by WNEP. The deal was facilitated by 4-3 Consulting, which coordinated negotiations among landowners, township leaders, and developers.
Seminole Nation of Oklahoma Enacts Moratorium on Data Center Development
The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma's Tribal Council unanimously passed a resolution on March 7 enacting a complete moratorium on generative AI technology and hyperscale data center development within its jurisdiction, according to Native News Online. The vote was 24-0.
The resolution bars all inquiries, discussions, and developments related to data centers of any size on Seminole Nation lands. The initiative was prompted after a startup approached the Tribal Council with a data center proposal that included an NDA request. The Seminole Nation partnered with Honor the Earth, an Indigenous-led climate justice nonprofit, in evaluating the potential impacts of hyperscale data centers.
Judge Extends Deadline for Independence, MO, Residents Challenging Data Center Tax Breaks
A Jackson County judge has extended the deadline for Independence, Missouri, residents to collect signatures for a proposed referendum challenging over $6 billion in tax breaks for a $150 billion Nebius data center project, according to the Kansas City Star.
Organizers of "Stop the Data Center in Independence" filed a lawsuit on March 9 after City Clerk Suzanne Holland declined to certify their petition, arguing the city charter does not allow a referendum once a contract is implemented. The judge's March 18 order acknowledged the plaintiffs' "reasonable probability of success" on their claim, as also reported by FOX4 Kansas City.
Over 800 signatures have been collected toward a goal of 3,700 needed to trigger a public vote. A hearing is scheduled for March 23. Nebius has indicated it could withdraw from Independence if the tax breaks are reversed. The company's planned 400-acre facility would include its own power plant.
