Morris Residents Express Concerns Over Approved Data Center Project
Morris, Illinois residents continue to voice strong opposition to a 340-acre data center project despite its approval by the City Council in August 2025. Concerns primarily revolve around water usage, electricity consumption, and potential environmental impacts. The city is preparing an ordinance to establish guardrails for future data center development.
Residents of Morris, Illinois, packed a recent City Council meeting to express their ongoing concerns about a 340-acre data center development, the Morris Technology Park, even though the project was approved in August 2025. Tom Goetz urged the council to consider negative impacts observed in other communities, citing a Gallup poll indicating widespread opposition to data centers. He questioned why their concerns were not being addressed by the council.
The project, developed by Tract, which purchased the land from Clarius for $51.5 million, is planned for a site already zoned for data center use. Tract intends to build the facility and then sell it to another corporation. Morris Mayor Chris Brown confirmed the 343-acre site is expected to use one gigawatt of power and stated that the city is preparing an ordinance with guardrails similar to those in Aurora and Minooka, including monitoring water and noise, setting sound levels, and defining building setbacks.
Erin Fosdick, representing Tract, discussed a transmission service agreement with Commonwealth Edison (ComEd), stating it would shield residential and small commercial customers from future rate increases and ensure Tract covers infrastructure upgrades. She also addressed water usage, noting the project would use Morris's municipal system and is considering both closed-loop and direct evaporative cooling systems. Residents like Patti Walker and Jerri Herzog raised specific concerns about groundwater depletion in Grundy County and potential health impacts from generator byproducts. Mike Gallagher, a volunteer for environmental groups, criticized the city's resources as inadequate and called for a more democratic process, suggesting the city might be overly enthusiastic about the development's promises.