South Side residents protest Quantum and Microelectronics Park development
Residents on Chicago's South Side are protesting the proposed Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, concerned it will be a data center with negative environmental impacts. Mayor Brandon Johnson has not publicly opposed the project, but he has signed an executive order for stronger data center regulations and called for a temporary moratorium on new data centers. The developer maintains the project is a research and development campus, not a data center.
Residents of Chicago's South Side convened a town hall event to protest the development of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park on the former South Works Steel Site. Community members express significant concerns about the potential negative environmental and community impacts should the project operate as a data center.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson addressed the crowd, stating he has received assurances from the developers that they will not proceed with a data center on the campus. Mayor Johnson also referenced an executive order he issued earlier this week, which aims to provide stronger regulations for data centers. Concurrently, the Mayor called for a temporary moratorium on new data center developments.