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Report: New data centers could create more than 120K Illinois jobs, though mostly temporary
The study says most of the jobs would be temporary construction and supplier work, while new facilities could add about $300 million a year in property taxes.
On Thursday, the Illinois Economic Policy Institute released a study projecting $57 billion in data center investments through 2035 could create 120,000 jobs, provided Illinois addresses growing public backlash over environmental and energy concerns.
Public distrust stems from state tax incentives costing $983 million between 2020 and 2024, coupled with concerns that facilities consume excessive water and energy, according to Illinois Economic Policy Institute economist Frank Manzo.
While 120,000 total jobs are anticipated, only 2,800 will be permanent, meaning developers spend $20.2 million per long-term position, says Anthony Elmo of the policy organization Good Jobs First.
To address these issues, the report proposes 10 policy changes, including banning non-disclosure agreements with officials and capping residential electricity rate increases at 5% annually to protect ratepayers.
ComEd service areas lack sufficient resources to reliably meet 2030 electricity requirements, while increased demand from data centers could boost average residential bills by $12 monthly, or about 10%.