Joliet residents express opposition to proposed data center
News ClipThe Times Weekly·Joliet, Will County, IL·3/11/2026
Joliet residents are expressing opposition to a proposed data center campus project by Hillwood, a Perot company located in Texas. The project would consist of 24 buildings on 800 acres of farmland east of the Chicagoland Speedway NASCAR racetrack. If approved, it would be one of the largest data centers in the Chicago region. The Joliet City Council is expected to vote on the proposal as early as next month.
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The Joliet City Council is considering a proposal for a massive 800-acre data center campus that could consist of 24 buildings. The project, proposed by Texas-based Hillwood, claims it would create thousands of construction jobs and a $20 billion investment. However, residents have raised concerns about potential environmental impacts, including pollution, high energy costs, and water supply issues. Some nearby communities, like Naperville and Aurora, have denied similar data center projects due to similar concerns. Joliet residents are urging the city council to vote against the proposal, citing the unknown long-term effects on the community.