Communities across northern Illinois are weighing billion-dollar data center projects that promise major tax revenue while raising concerns over water use, energy demand and rapid growth

A Dixon man has been formally charged with three felonies in connection with social media posts and emails that authorities say directed threats toward a Lee County economic development official over data centers

The City of Lockport has decided to halt all considerations and discussions of a data center in its Star Innovation District for the time being and will reopen review of the property's master plan.

This lawsuit is taking aim at the 540-acre Project Steel and its 16 two-story warehouses to be built over a 20-year construction period along the Eldamain Road corridor in Yorkville.

Lockport held its first workshop about the potential construction of a data center in its Star Innovation District on Tuesday and was met with many public questions and concerns.

Lockport officials holding first workshop Tuesday to discuss the possibility of a data center in the community, an idea which drew immediate opposition from some residents.

A lawsuit claims the rezoning of agricultural land for a Joliet data center is unconstitutional and the city violated state laws during the approval process.

The City of Lockport will host a series of workshops in the coming weeks to discuss the possibility of a data center, a concept which has already started to draw resident opposition.

The Ogle County Board unanimously approved two change orders May 19 for an ongoing Memorial Plaza project on the south side of the historic Ogle County Courthouse property.

The rate at which ComEd customers are charged for energy usage is increasing. Additionally, a temporary credit to Illinois customers is disappearing. Data centers for the artificial intelligence industry are among the factors driving the demand

The Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees will consider approving three censures against a trustee for her comments at a Joliet City Council meeting.

From Capitol News Illinois: Advocates are calling for the General Assembly to pass the POWER Act to regulate data centers before the legislative session ends on May 31

During a Friday status hearing before Kendall County Judge Robert Pilmer, attorneys for both sides said they need an extension until May 22 to see how the new lawsuit impacts the settlement negotiations.

From Capitol News Illinois: There are leaders who question whether the benefits make up for increased energy prices and water use, and they’re calling on the General Assembly to pass regulations this spring through the POWER ACT.

The City of Lockport has scheduled two workshops to discuss the possibility of a data center, though no official proposals are under consideration.

The township includes the city of Plano and the eastern edge of Sandwich. It also contains the unincorporated community of Little Rock.

A $5.3 million water main project was greenlit by the DeKalb City Council this week to aid incoming development on DeKalb’s south side, including a 560-acre Edged data center approved in December.

Several residents have united to form a community-based organization, “Preserve Our Yorkville & Community LLC” to file lawsuits against the city of Yorkville to halt data center construction.

The Rochelle City Council on April 27 voted unanimously to deny a development agreement with Midwest Power Investors for a proposed data center within city limits.

From Capitol News Illinois: Water supply concerns are furthered by the development of data centers, particularly in regions with depleted aquifers

Equinix, a data center company, has donated land north of Interstate 80 to the Minooka Fire Protection District to build a new fire station.

Farmland prices are expected to decrease from 1% to 5% this year, according to Illinois professional farm managers.

The city of Yorkville passed a budget for fiscal year 2027 the city finance director said sets Yorkville up for a “strong” five-year financial outlook.

From Capitol News Illinois: Lawmakers emphasized the need for transparency about how much water data centers use to cool their facilities at the final of three data center-focused hearings in the House Executive Committee

Lease agreements shifted toward more traditional crop-share agreements in 2026.

The moratorium by Plainfield places a 180-day pause on any applications for data centers and warehouses primarily used to store computing infrastructure.

Yorkville resident Alicia Castillo announced she is running for mayor because she sees a lack of affordable housing, minimal social services, high taxes and low employment opportunities.

From Capitol News Illinois: An Illinois House committee got an overview this week of how data centers are driving up energy demand and threatening potential shortfalls in the second of three planned hearings on the matter.

The move comes following an outcry against data centers in neighboring communities like Joliet and Yorkville. The meeting will be Monday at 7 p.m. at Plainfield Village Hall.

Yorkville Mayor John Purcell indicated there’s “no more appetite” from the City Council for data center proposals outside of what’s already been approved.

Community members lined the downtown street along Town Square Park on Saturday, April 11, to raise the voices they said are being ignored by Yorkville's elected officials. The group said "we are not backing down," in opposition to the city's near dozen data center projects.

Before the district comes back in November with another building bond proposal, it is surveying residents on why the $275 million bond proposal was rejected in the March primary vote.

The developers, Yorkville Nexus V LLC, Green Door Capital, requested the vote be tabled to the April 28 meeting, according to the city.

Rep. Jed. Davis (R- Yorkville) released a statement saying “the majority of residents don’t want” data centers and that local city officials should “listen to the residents.” He called for the projects to be put on the ballot for Yorkville.

As Illinois considers new limits on data centers, northern Illinois lawmakers, union workers, and municipal leaders gathered in Springfield on Wednesday for the first of three legislative hearings on data center development, local impact, and energy use

As Rochelle moves forward, residents and leaders alike are tasked with finding the right balance between progress and preservation, ensuring that growth benefits the entire community while maintaining the character that defines the city.

The vote on the 80-acre Meyer data center is now likely to be at the next Yorkville City Council meeting. A zoning commission unanimously voted against the project before changes were made.

The city of Yorkville approved the 540-acre Project Steel data center, with 16, two-story warehouses. The approval came after hours of residents urging the city to slow down approval for data centers.

The Rochelle city council voted 4-3 on Monday to table a vote on a development agreement with a developer who aims to bring a potential data center to the city.

Some residents said so during public comments that led to two people being removed by police from the Joliet City Council meeting last week.

The city of Yorkville has two more large data center projects being proposed. Up for votes on Tuesday is the 540-acre Project Steel and the Meyer data center.

From Capitol News Illinois: As large data centers burn electricity as fast as some small cities, utilities and advocates are looking for ways to ensure they’re not passing the buck for related infrastructure costs to everyday ratepayers

A resident’s lawsuit filed against the city of Yorkville to halt the 1,037 acre Project Cardinal data center is heading closer to a settlement. The final agreement between the attorneys is subject to approval by City Council.

Several Yorkville residents have voiced concerns about possible pollution into nearby residential areas

Councilman Larry Hug asked City Manager Beth Beatty to confirm an investigation regarding a city staffer and the data center.

The City Council met again on Thursday to vote on the data center, which went through a public hearing that lasted more than six hours earlier in the week.

Area residents challenge city of Joliet's stance that planner with family ties to data center property has been isolated from the project.

Unofficial final numbers show voters in Yorkville school district rejected the $275 million bond proposal by a two-to-one margin.

From Capitol News Illinois: The newly introduced POWER Act seeks to regulate new data centers built in Illinois and address concerns about their effects on energy prices, water and the environment

The Joliet City Council is likely to vote on the 795-acre data center project that had to be continued after a public hearing on Monday lasted more than six hours.