Lawsuit Filed Against Grayslake Data Center Development in Illinois
Opponents of a Grayslake data center project have filed a lawsuit against the Village of Grayslake, T5 Data Centers, and Alter Asset Management Company. The suit seeks to void previous approvals and development agreements amidst growing community backlash. Residents express concerns over environmental impacts, noise, and the approval process.
Opponents of a proposed data center development in Grayslake, Illinois, have filed a lawsuit against the village, developer T5 Data Centers, and landowner Alter Asset Management Company. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of the Preservation of Community Well-being Collective, seeks to invalidate 2024-2025 approvals and development agreements, as well as a permanent injunction against further permits for T5.
Michael Smith, co-founder of the Lake County Illinois Data Center Opposition Coalition, stated confidence in the legal case, which was announced during an educational event that drew cheers from local residents. Attorney Chloe Russell noted similar legal efforts in nearby Joliet and Yorkville, with the latter recently reaching a settlement. Grayslake Mayor Elizabeth Davies confirmed the village had not yet been served, while T5 CEO Pete Marin expressed confidence in the company's compliance with laws and regulations, highlighting the project's potential economic benefits for the region.
Residents from Grayslake, Mundelein, and Round Lake Park have voiced numerous concerns, including air pollution from backup generators, the impact on well water and soil, noise and light pollution, and the integrity of the closed-loop cooling system. They also criticized the Village of Grayslake for allegedly proceeding without adequate public input and for obfuscating the project's nature during earlier approval stages. T5 had previously withdrawn an application to fill nearly 16 acres of wetlands, a move framed by opponents as a misdirection rather than a resolution of environmental concerns.
The Lake County Stormwater Management Commission (SMC) noted that T5's application to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for wetland remediation has been closed due to lack of follow-up. While SMC currently has no direct ties to the development, its chief engineer, Brian Frank, stated that impacts to isolated wetlands on site, which fall under county jurisdiction, would still require SMC review and approval for drainage and hydraulic concerns.