Joe Holberg: Data centers are hot. We should use Lake Michigan to cool them.
Chicago mayoral candidate Joe Holberg proposes using a closed-loop geothermal coil system in Lake Michigan to cool data centers and potentially other buildings. He argues the approach could reduce water consumption and electricity use, while calling for environmental and water studies before construction begins.
Chicago mayoral candidate Joe Holberg says the city should accommodate growing data center demand while protecting Lake Michigan and limiting pressure on electricity supplies. He proposes installing a large, closed-loop geothermal coil system at the bottom of the lake to provide cooling without consuming water, along with designs that use Chicago’s colder outdoor air to reduce mechanical cooling needs.
Holberg also supports environmental and water studies before any lake infrastructure is built. He cites Chicago’s limited data center capacity and long waits for new ComEd connections as evidence of strong demand, while acknowledging residents’ concerns about lake impacts and higher electricity bills. The article is an opinion piece and does not announce an approved data center or lake-cooling project.