Grayslake residents sue to block $18 billion data center project

Residents in the Grayslake area of Illinois have filed a lawsuit to halt an $18 billion data center campus project. The Preservation of Community Well-Being Collective and nine Lake County residents are seeking a court order to nullify previous approvals and cancel the development agreement between the village and T5 Data Centers.

The lawsuit alleges that village officials violated the Illinois Open Meetings Act by conducting deliberations through private communications and closed sessions. Additionally, the plaintiffs contend that the village's zoning code does not expressly permit data centers and that recent approvals violated due process protections.

The proposed campus, located in the Cornerstone business park, could span 472 acres and include 18 buildings. While supporters highlight the potential for increased tax revenue for local schools and emergency services, critics express concerns regarding the impact on local natural resources and community character.