Morris Data Center Opposition Group Holds Informational Meeting To Raise Awareness & Share Concerns

The Morris Data Center Opposition Group recently hosted a community meeting at the Morris Library to voice concerns over the proposed 343-acre Morris Technology Park data center project, located near Route 6 and Gun Club Road. Organizer Jodi Pollack stated that the group initiated their own informational sessions due to a perceived lack of public engagement from the city of Morris and Tract, the company owning the project site, which had only conducted virtual meetings in August.

Attendees at the meeting focused on a range of potential impacts, including increased electricity demand, water consumption, noise pollution, lighting, property tax implications, and the overall future development of the area. One resident specifically highlighted environmental worries and concerns about rising utility bills. Pollack also expressed apprehension that the Route 6 and Ridge Road area, including a large data center already underway in Minooka, could become a new "data center alley" for Illinois, drawing parallels to Virginia's extensive data center corridor. She underscored the massive scale of the proposed one-gigawatt facility, noting it could power 43 cities the size of Morris annually.

Grundy County Board District 1 candidate Jason Easton delivered a presentation on energy and other relevant information during the two-hour event. The opposition group plans to continue holding weekly meetings with different speakers to maintain awareness and discussion on the data center project.