Joliet considers plans for what would be largest data center in Illinois; residents pack meeting

The Joliet City Council chambers were packed, mostly with residents opposed to a proposed large data center development in the city. The data center, called the Joliet Technology Center, would be built on about 800 acres of mostly farmland near the Joliet Speedway. Many residents spoke out against the project, urging the city council to reject it. They cited environmental concerns over the data center's water and electricity usage, as well as noise generated by the facility. Several other Chicago-area communities have previously rejected data center projects due to similar issues, the opponents argued. On the other side, supporters of the development said it would provide thousands of construction jobs and 700 full-time jobs once completed. The company behind the project has also promised $100 million in direct payments to the city, and analysts have predicted the site would generate around $2 billion in annual tax revenue. A number of union leaders representing trade organizations also spoke in favor of the data center, saying it would create much-needed jobs for the community. The Joliet Chamber of Commerce also supports the project, stating it represents a strong economic opportunity for the city in both the short and long term.