A growing number of communities are pushing back against data centers because of their impact on water, electricity, and other resources, but one suburban mayor says he’s keeping an open mind.
Robbins Mayor Darren Bryant is speaking out about the possibility of converting a shuttered trash incinerating facility into a data center, not ruling out that usage of the space at 134th and Kedzie.
“I know there is a lot of negative stories out there but my job as mayor is to be innovative,” Bryant said. “Water, electricity, noise, pollution and environmental all are concerns of mine too, but we are in the discovery phase. If we cannot solve those issues, it will never enter Robbins. We are in talks with the owner to explore.”
The owner of the property told NBC 5 at least five brokers have approached him about data centers at the site. His asking price is $25 to $30 million, with a credit for demolition
“The model we are looking at is three buildings on the property,” said Duggan. “Or it could be one owner and three tenants or one owner and one tenant, like a Microsoft.”
Bryant says alternative solutions to water and power are being discussed, as well as possible jobs and tax revenue.
“It could bring a lot of revenue, tax revenue into the village,” Bryant said. “If the data center can produce enough revenue and economics – then guess who can hire more people, the village, so it is indirectly leading to jobs.”
In June, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker paused tax benefits for data centers, but prior to that during a period from 2020 to 2024, the state gave 27 of the projects nearly $1 billion in breaks. According to estimates, those companies created 591 new full-time jobs, equaling around $1.6 million per job.
“I have my own local level tax breaks, where I can control some of the municipal taxes as a home rule municipality,” Bryant said. “On top of that, the incinerator is on the Cal Sag enterprise zone.”
Jason Sticha has lived in Robbins for four years, and is opposed to the idea.
“I am not against bringing business and jobs,” said Sticha. “But we need to live in reality. I have seen no positives from data centers.”
The mayor says a data center would need approval from the zoning board and full village board. He said there would also potentially be a series of town hall meetings.
” I live here too,” Bryant said. “I want a clean, environmentally friendly, economic boom for Robbins, just as anyone else… My legacy is attached to this.”
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