Joliet City Council moves vote on data center to Thursday

The Joliet City Council held a public hearing on Monday that lasted over six-and-a-half hours regarding a proposed 795-acre data center development. The lengthy hearing pushed the council meeting past midnight, meaning the vote would have taken place on the day of the Illinois primary election, which is prohibited by state law. Hundreds of residents turned out to address the council, many of them expressing strong opposition to the data center project. Residents raised concerns about the development's potential impact on electricity and water supplies, as well as issues with noise, light pollution, and expanded use of artificial intelligence. Portia Gallegos with Joliet Residents for Responsible Growth argued that the city was rushing the approval process, noting that the plan was presented to the Plan Commission less than two weeks ago. However, city staff have recommended approval of the data center, stating that the development plan addresses the concerns raised by residents. The project is also expected to generate significant tax revenue and create thousands of construction jobs, as well as hundreds of high-paying maintenance positions once the facility is operational. Proponents, such as Hugh O'Hara of the Will County Government League, argued that the tax revenue could help offset high property taxes for local homeowners. Ultimately, the Joliet City Council decided to postpone the vote until Thursday in order to comply with state laws prohibiting public bodies from convening on election days.