Why are so many data center projects being proposed in Illinois? Expert weighs in

The Chicago metropolitan area is seeing a significant increase in proposed data center projects, prompting local municipalities to hold numerous meetings and discussions. In Joliet, the city council recently approved plans for a large data center and technology park. Concurrently, the city of Yorkville in rural Kendall County has advanced plans for a data center campus spanning over 1,000 acres, known as Project Cardinal. However, not all proposals have been successful, with data center efforts in Naperville and Lisle recently failing. Stony Brook University engineering Professor Lav Varshney explained that data centers require a large physical footprint due to their high energy consumption for computation and cooling. He also noted that Illinois' flat terrain and skilled workforce contribute to its appeal for developers. While many smaller data centers are already established or under construction within the city of Chicago, such as the "HydraVault" in the South Loop, the larger suburban projects face similar neighbor concerns regarding their substantial demands for space, energy, and water. Despite these environmental considerations, local governments like Joliet are swayed by the potential for new jobs and significant tax revenue.