Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Residents urge Joliet council to reject proposed 795'800-acre data center over water, health and jobs concerns
Summary
Dozens of residents told the City of Joliet on Dec. 16 that a proposed 795'800-acre data center (promoted by Hillwood/Powerhouse as the Joliet Technology Center) would threaten groundwater, raise energy costs and deliver few long-term local jobs; councilmembers said no decision has been made and they will continue due diligence into 2026.
Dozens of Joliet residents packed City Hall on Dec. 16 to urge the City Council to oppose a proposed data center campus that speakers said would consume scarce water, strain the electric grid and offer only temporary construction jobs.
Andrea Bomhart, a Manhattan Township resident, told the council the project site would be within walking distance of her home and asked, "What is the power source?" and "What is the purchase agreement for that power?" She also raised a personal health concern, saying she had been told by a medical source about links between so'called "dirty electricity" and sustained blood-glucose issues for people with diabetes. "This data center is 800 acres," Bomhart said, adding that the scale makes it "the largest one…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
