The Joliet City Council in Illinois recently approved plans for a major data center project, which has now faced legal challenges from local residents. In March 2023, the council voted 8 to 1, with councilwoman Suzanna Ibarra opposing the project. The plaintiffs, known as Joliet Residents for Responsible Growth, filed a civil lawsuit at the Will County Courthouse, aiming to stop the construction of the data center being developed by Powerhouse Hillwood Holding. The lawsuit claims the project, which spans 795 acres and includes 24 buildings with a 1.8 gigawatt capacity, will consume electrical power comparable to the Hoover Dam and draw water from sources projected to be inadequate by 2030. The plaintiffs argue that the city council did not follow necessary procedural protections for such a significant land use action. They emphasize that the interests of local residents are at stake, as the project affects properties within a three-mile radius of the site. This legal dispute highlights growing concerns over the environmental impact and resource consumption associated with large-scale developments in Joliet.