Joliet residents debate approval of largest data center development in state

A heated debate is taking place during a Joliet City Council meeting about a proposed data center development that would be the largest in the state of Illinois. The project, from Hillwood Investment Properties and Powerhouse Data Centers, would be built in phases with up to 24 buildings when completed. The city expects the data center campus to bring billions in property tax revenue over 30 years, as well as 700 new full-time jobs and up to 10,000 construction jobs. However, several Joliet residents are voicing strong opposition to the project. They are concerned that the data center will deplete the local aquifer and put a strain on the electrical grid, potentially increasing utility bills for residents. There are also worries about the noise that data centers can generate. Many who spoke against the project feel the city council should at least postpone the vote until residents can get more assurances about the project's impacts. Some argued the city should not approve the data center at all, saying "This is not the project we need. We do not need a data center at this time and we do not need a data center in Joliet." The council meeting is ongoing, and a decision has not yet been made. The first building of the data center project is slated to begin construction in 2028 if approved.