Protesters rally Saturday against Joliet data center

Around 50 protesters gathered in Joliet, Illinois to rally against a proposed 795-acre data center project being developed by Hillwood and PowerHouse Data Centers. The protesters marched to the front of D'Arcy Mitsubishi, a dealership owned by Joliet Mayor Terry D'Arcy, chanting slogans like "No data centers at all! Shame on the mayor! Shame on the council!" The protesters, led by organizer Sam Coffey, are concerned about the data center's potential impact on electricity, water, and noise levels in the area. They argue the project is a threat to public health and the environment. However, the developers have promised over 7,000 construction jobs and 700 high-paying permanent jobs, as well as $310 million in property taxes over 30 years. With the Joliet City Council set to vote on annexing the land for the project on Monday, the protesters are making a last-ditch effort to sway the decision. They presented a petition with over 3,000 signatures opposing the data center, while the developers claim to have gathered 6,000 letters of support from local residents.