Chicago Data Center Boom Faces Energy, Water, and Policy Debates

Chicago is rapidly becoming a national data-center hub with dozens of facilities citywide and more planned across Cook County, attracted by cheaper power, abundant water, and a favorable central location, but the growth raises concerns about electricity and water use, higher utility bills, noise and emissions, and strain on infrastructure. Regulators have paused new state tax incentives, the city has imposed stricter permitting and review rules, and proposals like the POWER Act seek to shift infrastructure costs to centers and require environmental disclosures, while public opinion remains mixed.