Residents press council for transparency and caution on proposed Joliet data center; speakers cite energy, water and jobs concerns
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Summary
Multiple residents used the public-comment period to oppose a proposed large data center (referenced as a 795-acre proposal), raising concerns about electricity and water demand, inflated job claims and local impacts; several councilmembers called for greater transparency in the review process.
An extended public-comment period during the Feb. 17 meeting drew numerous speakers opposed to proposed large data-center development in Joliet and urging the council to scrutinize projected benefits.
Griselda Chavez, a lifelong Joliet resident, urged the council to question developer claims and cited research suggesting the data-center industry's long-term permanent job numbers are far lower than construction-era employment. Chavez referenced a Food & Water Watch analysis and said that while the industry consumes a disproportionate share of electricity, it often produces relatively few permanent local jobs.
"Data centers often promote their construction jobs as massive long term job creators," Chavez said, and she urged the council to "take time to research these issues and not just receive information from the same development company that will profit."
Other speakers raised related concerns: potential impacts on local water supplies and wells, increased electricity costs, limited permanent-job creation relative to promised figures, and the long lead time for construction that can disrupt neighborhoods. A number of residents said they had reviewed materials or attended open houses and asked for clearer technical graphics and soil studies to be posted publicly.
One councilmember (Mayor Pro Tem Pat Mudran) publicly demanded transparency in the process, saying elected officials had not been the ones to release heavily redacted plan documents and that residents deserve to see unredacted plans so they can ask informed questions.
Council did not take an immediate vote related to the data-center proposals at this meeting; comments were recorded for the public record and several councilmembers asked staff to ensure residents have access to plan documents and upcoming meetings.
