Planned Illinois data center projects could create 121,000 mostly temporary construction and skilled-trade jobs through 2035, according to a report by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute and the University of Illinois. The estimate covers $57 billion in expected development.
If the projects are built, municipalities could collect nearly $300 million more a year in property taxes. Study author Frank Manzo said residents could also pay $12 more per month for electricity. The institute is aligned with the Illinois AFL-CIO, which supports data center construction.
Illinois has more than 200 data centers operating or planned. A 795-acre site in Joliet is slated to become operational by 2030. Gov. J.B. Pritzker has formed an Illinois AI cabinet to examine risks, including the strain data centers could place on the power grid. His administration has also imposed a two-year pause on state tax incentives for data center construction.
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