Grayslake data center project continues despite community resistance
News ClipChicago Tribune·Grayslake, Lake County, IL·5/6/2026
A large-scale data center project by T5 Data Centers in Grayslake, Illinois, is facing significant community resistance, despite construction already being underway. Residents and a newly formed opposition group are criticizing the village for perceived lack of transparency and potential strains on the power grid and environment. Village officials, including Mayor Elizabeth Davies, defend the project, citing substantial tax benefits and long-term planning for the development area.
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Gov: Grayslake Village Board, village of Grayslake
A hyperscale data center project, T5 @ Chicago IV, in Grayslake, Illinois, is advancing despite significant community opposition. If fully built out, the campus could encompass over 10 million square feet of data center space and become Lake County's largest single development.
Residents and the newly formed Lake County Data Center Opposition Coalition express feeling blindsided by the project's rapid approval and construction, which began with mass grading in February. They question the transparency of the Grayslake Village Board and raise concerns about the immense power and water consumption of the facility. Michael Smith of North Barrington and Jess Ortiz of the Coalition are critical of the board's communication and the potential strain on the state's power grid and rising electric bills.
Grayslake Mayor Elizabeth Davies, who inherited the development from former Mayor Rhett Taylor, defends the village's actions, stating they were