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The atmosphere was charged at the Joliet City Council meeting on Monday evening, as a large number of residents gathered to voice their opposition to a proposed data center project. The council chambers were filled to capacity, with additional overflow rooms also bustling with concerned citizens.
The developers behind this ambitious project aim to construct what would become the largest data center in Illinois, strategically located near Bernhard and Rowell. The proposed site spans approximately 800 acres of predominantly farmland, situated close to the Joliet speedway. The developers have dubbed the venture the “Joliet Technology Center” and argue that the location is perfectly suited for such an establishment.
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Although the city’s planning commission has already given its approval, the project faces significant resistance from the local community. During the meeting, many residents took the opportunity to appeal to city council members, urging them to reconsider and ultimately reject the proposal.
The concerns raised by the residents were primarily focused on the environmental impact of the data center. They highlighted potential issues such as excessive water and electricity usage and the noise that the facility might generate. These apprehensions mirror the reasons why several other communities in the Chicago area have turned down similar data center projects in the past.
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.
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