Equinix Data Center — Minooka Campus

Will the data center be using all of the water?

The data center will not be a large water user. In fact it will use about as much water as an office building or neighborhood built on the same site.

Will my electric bill go up and will there be 'brown-outs'?

At Equinix's recent open house, ComEd explained that increases in electric bills are driven by power generation costs, a variable they don't control. Any large user on the 13-state Regional Transmission Organization grid affects supply and demand regionally, not just locally. ComEd studies show that sufficient grid capacity exists to support this specific project. A ComEd representative also attended the September 23, 2025 Village Board public hearing and confirmed: 'This has no bearing on distribution. There will be no shortage of power.'

Will the data center be noisy?

A sound study conducted on site in early 2025 projects a worst case noise level of 44 dBA at 10:00 pm. For reference, a car driving by on Ridge Road at that same time is closer to 66 dBa.

How will this affect traffic?

The main construction access will be off Wildy Road. Once completed, traffic will largely consist of employees in their personal vehicles and contractors working on site. In short, when construction is complete this will not significantly increase the amount of trucks on the roads.

What happened to the 3 million gallons of water per day mentioned in early news reports?

That figure came from Equinix's original proposal. The Village of Minooka rejected water-intensive cooling and required an air-cooled closed-loop design instead. The approved campus uses air cooling to minimize water use — a condition built into the development agreement.

When will construction begin and when will the campus be operational?

At the September 30, 2025 community open house, the Village projected construction starting in 2027 and operations beginning in 2031. Site preparation work began in early 2026 at the northwest corner of Ridge and Walde roads. Equinix's build-out is a phased 10-year plan: the first 3–4 AI buildings go up first, then a large substation, then the remaining structures.

Is there organized opposition to the project?

Yes. A community petition on Change.org was launched December 16, 2025, citing concerns about water and energy consumption, traffic, noise, infrastructure strain, and property values. It calls for thorough environmental impact assessments and reached 567 signatures as of mid-2026. The Village Board had already approved the project on September 23, 2025, prior to the petition being filed.

$6.6 million* projected in annual property tax revenue helping to ensure a balanced tax base

Approved by: Village of Minooka

$6.7 million* for bike paths and open space; $5 million* to offset residents' Lake Michigan Water costs

Approved by: Village of Minooka

Village Board approved the final plat and easements. Equinix will pay ~$13 million for water, sewer, and road infrastructure. Site prep begins on the northwest corner of Ridge and Walde roads with a 600-ft landscaped setback and sound barrier.

WCSJ Radio outlines Equinix's phased 10-year campus plan: first 3–4 AI buildings, then a large substation, then remaining structures. Community comments raise questions about water, power sequencing, and environmental impact.

Industry directory profile. Lists 7 buildings totaling 1.1 million sq ft across ~300 acres. Air-cooled closed-loop design to minimize water use. Notes four additional Equinix buildings (CH9–CH14) planned on the same campus and several competing projects within 20 miles.

Community opposition petition citing concerns about water and energy consumption, traffic, noise, infrastructure strain, and property values. Calls for thorough environmental impact assessments before approval. Reached 567 signatures as of mid-2026.

A pro-project analysis that addresses common concerns: electricity costs are shared across the PJM regional grid; the village rejected water-intensive cooling and required air-cooling instead; engineering studies confirm adequate grid capacity. Author notes $25 million in infrastructure investments benefits residents without raising local taxes.

Over 100 residents attended Equinix's community open house. ComEd's Bill Pegel explained that rising electricity costs are regional, not caused by local data centers. Village Administrator Dan Duffy projected ~$7 million in taxes over ten years. Construction scheduled to begin 2027, operations 2031.

Official minutes of the Village Board meeting at which six Equinix ordinances were approved: Annexation & Development Agreement (2025-24), Annexation of territory (2025-25), Rezoning to DC Data Center District (2025-26), Conditional PUD Permit (2025-27), Design Guidelines correction (2025-28), and Zoning Ordinance amendment (2025-29). Project described as 4 hyperscale + 3 colo/retail buildings across 368 acres. Annual property tax projected at $5.9–$7.4 million.

Tribune report on the initial proposal: ~340 acres, 3 million gallons of water per day, 700 megawatts of electricity. Mayor Ric Offerman supports the project for jobs and tax revenue. Coverage highlights concerns about underground aquifers and Illinois's fossil fuel reduction goals, featuring local farming families.

Tribune investigation into how Illinois's data center building boom is straining the state's clean energy targets. Covers the Minooka proposal and broader statewide pattern: hundreds of acres of farmland, massive electricity demand, and questions about whether the grid can meet Illinois's 2035 carbon-free goals while accommodating explosive AI infrastructure growth.