Data center dilemma: More jobs or higher bills?
A report on Illinois data center development projects estimates they could create 121,000 mostly temporary construction and skilled-trade jobs and generate nearly $300 million in annual local property tax revenue. The projects could also increase residential electricity bills by about $12 per month, prompting recommendations such as limiting utility rate increases and reusing data center heat.
A report from the labor-backed Illinois Economic Policy Institute and the University of Illinois projects that Illinois could see $57 billion in data center construction through 2035. If completed, the projects could produce about 121,000 mostly temporary construction and skilled-trade jobs and nearly $300 million in additional annual property tax revenue for local governments.
The study also warns that increased electricity demand could raise household utility bills by roughly $12 per month. Its authors propose state policies including a 5% annual cap on utility rate increases and incentives for data centers to capture excess heat for use by nearby homes and businesses. The article references construction of the T5 data center in Northlake as an example of the state's development activity.