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

JOLIET, Ill. (WLS) -- The Joliet City Council chambers as well as several overflow rooms were packed on Monday night, mostly with opponents who do not want a data center in town.

Developers have proposed building the largest data center in the state near Bernhard and Rowell.

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It is about 800 acres of mostly farmland near the Joliet speedway. Developers say it is an ideal site for what they are calling the Joliet Technology Center.

The city's plan commission has already approved the project. But many of the residents at Monday night's meeting spoke out against the center, urging city council members to reject it.

Residents cited environmental concerns about water and electricity consumption. They also raised concerns about noise generated by the plant. Those are all issues, they say, that convinced several other Chicago-area communities to reject data centers.

One resident presented nearly 5,000 petition signatures against the center.

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Meanwhile, supporters of the development say it will provide thousands of construction jobs and 700 full-time jobs once the center is completed.

And the company has promised $100 million in payments directly to the city. Analysts have predicted that the site would generate about $2 billion annually in tax revenue.

A number of union leaders representing trade organizations urged the council to approve the center, saying it would create much needed jobs for the community. Joliet's Chamber of Commerce agrees.

"The data center is a great project. That's huge for Joliet," said union leader Tom White.

The city council committed to letting everyone who wanted to speak get an opportunity. As of 10 p.m. Monday, the meeting had been going on for over four hours with no end sight.