NBC Chicago goes inside an Elk Grove Village data center
NBC Chicago visited an Equinix data center in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, a town known as the "data center capital of the Midwest." The report highlighted the facility's power and water consumption, noting new air-cooled technology reduces water use but may increase electricity demand. Illinois lawmakers, led by Governor Pritzker, are planning to introduce new regulations on data centers concerning power and water usage.
NBC Chicago was granted exclusive access inside an Equinix data center in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, a community proudly dubbed the "data center capital of the Midwest" by its mayor. The report offered a rare glimpse into the highly secure facility, featuring rows of servers, fiber wires, and blinking lights.
Equinix managing director Guy Danskin explained that this particular 20-year-old facility primarily serves two-thirds of America's Fortune 500 companies for data storage, rather than AI applications. He noted a distinction between traditional data centers and the much larger AI data centers, which he believes are at the root of recent public outcry regarding the industry.
The facility consumes 35 megawatts of power at full capacity, with Equinix holding a 10-year agreement with ComEd for power at pre-set rates, claiming all energy comes from renewable sources through credit purchases. Danskin highlighted technological advancements, stating that their new adjacent data center operates without water cooling, relying instead on an air-cooled, closed-loop system, which, while saving water, can slightly increase electricity consumption. Governor Pritzker and Illinois lawmakers have pledged to propose new regulations on data centers, specifically targeting power and water restrictions, during their upcoming fall veto session.