Data center activity in Illinois
Illinois combines at least 158 enacted moratoriums with only ten rejected, which sets the tone for its environment. Zoning outcomes still favor development, with at least 70 approvals against 21 denials, but opposition has prevailed more often than not, blocking at least 21 projects while ten advanced despite pushback. At least 124 companies are active, signaling strong market confidence around the Chicago region. Illinois has edged downward over the past quarter and remains more contested than neighboring Indiana.
Illinois combines at least 158 enacted moratoriums with only ten rejected, which sets the tone for its environment. Zoning outcomes still favor development, with at least 70 approvals against 21 denials, but opposition has prevailed more often than not, blocking at least 21 projects while ten advanced despite pushback. At least 124 companies are active, signaling strong market confidence around the Chicago region. Illinois has edged downward over the past quarter and remains more contested than neighboring Indiana.
How is this scored?An opinion article argues that a proposed data center in Rockford is not yet finalized and urges residents to make their views heard. The available text does not provide details about the project, developer, or any official decision.
The Champaign County Board unanimously adopted an ordinance barring board members from signing most nondisclosure agreements involving county business. It also approved a resolution prohibiting county property-tax abatements for hyperscale data centers, while an existing moratorium on data centers on undeveloped county-owned land remains in effect through April 2027.
ComEd expects to spend about $3.1 billion connecting new data centers to its Illinois grid, prompting the Citizens Utility Board to warn that residential customers could bear some of the cost. ComEd says existing and proposed protections require large-load customers to cover their own infrastructure expenses, while advocates are urging passage of the Illinois POWER Act.
Illinois state Sen. Sue Rezin has proposed legislation that would require data centers to pay into community benefits agreements. The funds would be rebated to local taxpayers through property-tax relief, while Gov. JB Pritzker is also urging lawmakers to adopt data center regulations.
A community meeting in Freeport examined potential water, noise, air pollution and electricity impacts from data center development. Stephenson County approved a six-month moratorium on data center development while officials work on local regulations, and Illinois advocates are seeking statewide protections through the proposed Power Act.
TerraWatt has proposed a $3 billion, 200-megawatt data center at the former Alton Steel site in Alton, Illinois. The project would require rezoning and further utility, environmental and due-diligence studies, while TerraWatt is also suing St. Louis over renewable-energy requirements for a separate data center project.
The Madison County Board voted to exclude data centers from property tax abatements in the Southwestern Madison County Enterprise Zone. The action does not prohibit data center development, leaving zoning and development decisions to local municipalities while preserving tax revenue for local districts.
A T5-commissioned study claims its Grayslake data center development will generate nearly $10 billion in economic output across Illinois by 2031, including billions in Lake County revenue and thousands of jobs. Local opponents, including the Lake County Data Center Opposition Coalition, dispute the projections and have sued to stop the project, citing concerns about transparency, power use, water, noise, contamination and air quality.
The Citizens Utility Board says ComEd could spend about $3.1 billion on transmission and distribution upgrades to connect roughly 30 large-load projects, most of which it believes are data centers. CUB argues data center operators should cover those costs rather than Illinois households, and supports state and federal legislation requiring stronger consumer protections.
A University of Illinois Springfield event examined the environmental effects of expanding data centers, including increased electricity demand, fossil-fuel generation, air pollution, blackout risks, noise and water use. Boston University professor Mary Willis also discussed the approved CyrusOne data center project and opportunities for communities to negotiate benefits and monitor local impacts.
The opinion article argues that data centers’ growing electricity and water consumption is raising utility costs and worsening environmental and public-health risks. It calls for stronger local and federal oversight to make data center operations more transparent and accountable.
Residents in Alton, Illinois, are opposing a proposal by Terrawatt to convert the former Alton Steel mill into the River Bend Technology Center data center. Neighbors cite concerns about power use, water consumption, environmental impacts near a migratory bird sanctuary, and transparency from city officials, while project supporters point to lower water use and emissions than the former steel mill.
Terawatts is proposing to redevelop the 381-acre former Alton Steel site in Alton into the Riverbend Technology Center, beginning with a 200-megawatt data center and potentially adding four more blocks. The proposal requires a use determination and rezoning approval from the City of Alton, while residents are raising concerns about power use, water consumption and the project's scale.
Alton Steel Inc. and TerraWatt are exploring the purchase and redevelopment of the former Alton Steel property in Alton, Illinois, as a data center campus. No permit or zoning application has been filed, and the city plans to hire consultants to evaluate the proposal's economic, environmental, water, energy, noise and traffic impacts.
Commonwealth Edison projects more than $3 billion in grid upgrades to serve 30 large-load users believed to be data centers across Illinois, but developers have committed only about $721 million so far. Consumer advocates warn that households and small businesses could bear costs if projects are delayed or canceled, while ComEd says regulatory agreements will protect ratepayers.
A developer plans to invest $2.6 billion in a data center project in Alton, with full buildout targeted for 2031. The article does not identify the developer or provide additional project details.
ComEd projects it will spend about $3.1 billion to connect large-load users believed to be data centers, but has collected only about $721 million in deposits and advance commitments. Consumer groups warn Illinois households could bear the cost if projects are canceled, while ComEd says new agreements protect transmission investments and that deposits may increase.
TerraWatt is seeking to buy and redevelop the former 381-acre Alton Steel site in Alton, Illinois, into a data center campus. Residents are divided, with some supporting redevelopment and investment while others raise concerns about water use, electricity demand, noise, environmental impacts and rezoning; the sale and required city approvals remain pending.
TerraWatt is proposing a 200-megawatt data center on the 381-acre former Alton Steel mill site in Alton, Illinois. The Riverbend Technology Center requires city rezoning and a completed property purchase, while a public open house will allow residents to comment before the rezoning process advances.
The Ogle County Board began reviewing a proposed ordinance governing potential data center development, including conditional-use approvals and performance standards for water, energy, noise and vibration. No data center project is currently under consideration, but some residents opposed potential development and said the draft lacks sufficient protections for agricultural, livestock and wildlife impacts.