Potential Lockport data center development draws heavy public opposition

The City of Lockport, Illinois, is considering a significant data center development on a city-owned parcel known as the Star Innovation District, a former Texaco oil refinery site. Mayor Steven Streit hosted the first of three public meetings to discuss the possibilities, framing the rise of the AI industry as inevitable and suggesting the city could leverage its property ownership to impose strict conditions on any developer, such as using wastewater effluent instead of potable water and ensuring reusable buildings.

Despite the Mayor's efforts to present a controlled development scenario, many residents expressed unilateral opposition. During a news conference held before the meeting, local politicians and residents voiced concerns about excessive water and electric demand, continuous noise pollution, and potential negative impacts on property values and community health. Brent Porfilio, a speaker at the conference, highlighted that a medium-sized data center could generate 90 decibels of noise within half a mile, comparable to a highway.

Residents also expressed frustration over the city's perceived lack of transparency, particularly regarding a letter of intent signed with broker VME in September 2025. Mayor Streit clarified that this agreement was merely for due diligence and did not commit the city to any specific project. He assured the public that if the ongoing series of workshops fail to identify a mutually acceptable path forward, the data center idea would be dropped. Panelists at the meeting included Sarah Moskowitz of the Citizens Utility Board and Rachel Havrelock of The Freshwater Lab at the University of Illinois at Chicago, who discussed energy and water issues, respectively.