Lawsuit challenges zoning, approval process for Joliet data center
A lawsuit has been filed against the City of Joliet and three companies involved in the $20 billion Joliet Technology Center project. Plaintiffs allege the city's rezoning of agricultural land for the data center is unconstitutional and that the approval process violated state laws regarding public notice and due process. The suit also highlights concerns about the data center's substantial water and electricity demands.
A lawsuit has been filed at the Will County Courthouse challenging the rezoning and approval process for the $20 billion, 795-acre Joliet Technology Center data center project in Joliet, Illinois. The plaintiffs, including members of Joliet Residents For Responsible Growth, allege that the city's decision to rezone agricultural land to light industrial is unconstitutional and that the city violated state laws, including the Open Meetings Act, during the approval process. They also claim residents were denied due process, including the right to cross-examine developers' witnesses.
The lawsuit names the City of Joliet, Powerhouse Hillwood Holding, HW Technology Park Development, and American Real Estate Partners as defendants. Among the specific allegations, the plaintiffs claim a public notice for a special Plan Commission meeting failed to adequately describe the massive 1.8-gigawatt data center development. They also raise concerns about an alleged conflict of interest involving Joliet Planning Director Jayne Bernhard, whose father reportedly has a financial stake in the project.
Environmental and utility concerns are central to the lawsuit, which alleges the data center will consume 100,000 to 150,000 gallons of water daily from an aquifer projected to face peak demand issues by 2030, just as the city plans to transition to a more costly Lake Michigan water system. The suit also states the data center's 1.8 gigawatts of electrical demand is equivalent to the Hoover Dam's generating capacity. Residents fear disproportionate burdens of noise, traffic, vibration, light, and air quality on District 5.
Despite these concerns, city staff and developers contend the project will use a closed-loop water recycling system, mitigate noise through building structures and landscape berms, and meet its own electricity demand without affecting surrounding energy customers. The project, which was approved by the Joliet City Council in an 8-1 vote on March 19, is projected to generate $2.1 billion for taxing bodies over 30 years and create 7,000 to 10,000 construction jobs and 700 permanent high-paying jobs.