Joliet, Will County, IL
Joliet Technology Center
Also known as Joliet data center
- Rumored
- Proposed
- Approved
- Under construction
- Operating
A proposed 795-acre, 24-building, 1.8 GW data center campus near Rowell and Bernhard roads east of Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois, developed by Hillwood and PowerHouse Data Centers and described as Illinois' largest. The Joliet City Council approved annexation-related rezoning 8-1 in March 2026 over resident objections. Nearby residents sued in May 2026 challenging the rezoning and approval process; defendants have moved to dismiss.
Key facts
Size & schedule
| Planned capacity | 1.8 GW [1] Power demand at full capacity |
|---|---|
| Site size | 795 acres [1] |
| Floor area | 6.9 million sq ft [4] |
| Buildings | 24 [1] Four sub-campuses of six buildings each |
| Stated investment | $20 billion [4] As reported in lawsuit coverage |
| Permanent jobs (promised) | 700 [1] |
| Construction jobs | 10,000 [1] 7,000-10,000 construction jobs |
| Target completion | First sub-campus 2028; full build-out through 2032 [1] |
Power
| Utility | ComEd (developer-paid system upgrades) [3] |
|---|---|
| Grid operator | PJM [6]Source excerpt“The Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) that coordinates the movement of wholesale electricity throughout the local grid is PJM Interconnection LLC.” |
Water
| Water use | 150,000 gal/day [4] 100,000-150,000 gallons daily, as described in lawsuit coverage |
|---|---|
| Water source | Aquifer (city plans shift to Lake Michigan water in 2030) [4] |
| Cooling | closed-loop [3] |
Money & incentives
| Payments / community benefits | $100 million community benefit contribution to the City of Joliet [6]Source excerpt“Furthermore, the Developer has committed to a $100 million community benefit contribution to the City.” |
|---|
Local decisions & site
| Zoning | I-1 (light industrial), with annexation agreement [6]Source excerpt“The proposed I-1 (light industrial) zoning designation generally aligns with the land use direction from the South Side Comprehensive Plan.” |
|---|---|
| Nearest homes or schools | 0.66 miles [6]Source excerpt“The nearest residential structure is 0.66 miles from the proposed site.” |
Figures are as stated by the cited source. Where sources disagree, each figure is shown.
Timeline
Public notice issued for zoning hearing (lawsuit alleges it failed to describe the data center) [4]
City Council public hearing on the proposal (lawsuit alleges residents were denied due process) [4]
City Council approves project 8-1 (Councilwoman Suzanna Ibarra dissenting) [1]
Residents and Joliet Residents For Responsible Growth sue city and developers in Will County [4]
City and developers' motions to dismiss set for a Sept. 8 hearing before Will County Judge Victoria Breslan [5]
Issues raised
- Residents raised electricity supply and utility cost concerns, property values, health and proximity [1][2]
- Lawsuit alleges defective public notice, Open Meetings Act and due-process violations, and a planning director conflict of interest [4]
- Opponents say the site's aquifer is projected to no longer meet peak demand by 2030 [4]
Sources
- Joliet OKs controversial 795-acre data centerShaw Local (The Herald-News) · Mar 20, 2026 · news
- Joliet City Council approves plans for what would be largest data center in IllinoisABC7 Chicago · Mar 20, 2026 · news
- Joliet data center going before plan commission ThursdayShaw Local (The Herald-News) · Mar 3, 2026 · news
- Lawsuit challenges zoning, approval process for Joliet data centerShaw Local (The Herald-News) · May 26, 2026 · news
- Lawsuit against Joliet data center heading to court hearingShaw Local (The Herald-News) · Aug 17, 2026 · news
- City of Joliet Memo, File #178-26: Public Hearing for a Resolution to Approve an Annexation Agreement for the Annexation of Approximately 795 Acres Surrounding S. Rowell Road and Bernhard Road (A-4-25)City of Joliet (via Capitol News Illinois) · Mar 16, 2026 · government