Residents Raise Concerns Over Proposed Data Centers in Illinois

Environmental advocates warn of higher utility bills, power outages, and water supply issues from data center projects.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 6:36pm

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About two dozen south and southwest suburban residents, along with environmental advocates, gathered in Frankfort, Illinois to voice concerns that nearby data centers could lead to higher utility bills, regional power outages, declining air quality, and strained water supplies. The concerns stemmed from data center proposals in Joliet, Minooka, Essex, Coal City, and Yorkville that are quickly gaining municipal support. Advocates worry these projects could also be proposed in less populated, lower-income areas where there may be less public awareness and opposition.

Why it matters

Data center proposals across Illinois have sparked debates among environmentalists, unions, suburban officials, and residents. Advocates argue these large-scale projects could have significant impacts on local communities, including higher utility costs, power grid strain, and environmental damage. As more data centers are proposed, there are concerns that less populated areas may be targeted for these developments with little public input.

The details

The forum in Frankfort included Sierra Club environmental advocates who sought to educate residents on the potential impacts of data centers. Some residents expressed concern but said they did not fully understand how these centers could affect them. Advocates cited issues like low-frequency vibrations, transmission cost burdens passed on to customers, and the massive electricity demands of data centers sitting atop aging aquifers. They advised residents to research proposals, communicate with local officials, and mobilize their communities to push for regulation and oversight of these projects.

  • The Joliet City Council is scheduled to vote on a proposal for the state's largest data center on Monday, March 18, 2026.
  • In June 2025, ComEd customers saw electric bills rise by roughly $10.60 per month due in part to data center demands.
  • A December 2025 analysis reported that Illinois could be only five years away from chronic electricity shortages and higher monthly bills due to AI-driven surges in demand.

The players

Sierra Club Tall Plains Group

A local chapter of the Sierra Club environmental organization that advocates on issues related to data centers and their environmental impacts in the south and southwest suburbs of Chicago.

Hillwood Investment Properties

A Dallas-based real estate development company proposing to build a 24-building data center project in Joliet, Illinois.

PowerHouse Data Centers

A Virginia-based data center developer partnering with Hillwood Investment Properties on the proposed Joliet project.

Commonwealth Edison (ComEd)

The electric utility company serving northern Illinois, including the Chicago metropolitan area.

PJM Interconnection

A regional energy transmission organization that comprises 13 states, including Illinois, and reviewed the Joliet data center proposal.

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What they’re saying

“I feel like areas that are less populated are going to be heavily targeted because they're going to be seen to be easy land grabs, and there's not going to be a lot of people to protest them because they're a little town, a little suburb.”

— Laura Nurczyk, Treasurer, Sierra Club Tall Plains Group

“It's kind of like enduring a small shell shock effect to the brain and it does not align well with brain development.”

— Felix Ortiz, Environmental Panelist

“When developers do not take on these [transmission] costs, that results in significant costs, sometimes in the millions, passed on to customers.”

— Portia Gallegos, Sierra Club Advocate

“You need to be able to figure out, who are the people we need to be having conversations with, because these are the people that ultimately decide what's going to happen.”

— Felix Ortiz, Environmental Panelist

“I feel like it's different in the sense that we got lucky, and I think we were loud enough, but because of some of the political shifting pieces, there were reasons for people to support us.”

— Sarah Baugh, Naperville Resident

What’s next

The Joliet City Council is scheduled to vote on the proposed 24-building data center project on Monday, March 18, 2026. Residents and advocates are urging the council to delay the vote or reject the plan to allow more time for public input and review of the potential impacts.

The takeaway

As data center proposals proliferate across Illinois, local communities must be vigilant in understanding the potential consequences and mobilizing to ensure their voices are heard. Residents should research these projects, communicate with elected officials, and work to implement policies that protect their neighborhoods from the environmental and economic burdens of large-scale data centers.