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Illinois Data Center Intel
Latest data center news, projects, power and policy across Illinois — updated daily.
Recent Illinois data center news
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Lack of power pushes rental increases in major U.S. data center markets: CBRE
Demand for data centers in North America is rising due to public cloud providers and AI companies, with northern Virginia leading in net absorption at 407.4 MW. Pricing is surging, particularly in Chicago. Dominion Energy projects in Virginia may alleviate power constraints. Dallas-Fort Worth is the second-largest colocation market, with robust construction and pre-leasing.
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Commercial electricity demand grew fastest in states with rapid computing facility growth
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Former Sears HQ to get new life as sustainable data center campus
Illinois’s growing data center industry benefits from abundant clean energy, with 60% sourced from nuclear and wind. The former Sears HQ in Northern Illinois will be transformed into a data center campus using sustainable technologies like Vertiv’s Liebert DSE solution and Compass’s eco-friendly construction methods, targeting reduced carbon emissions. The project by Compass Datacenters involves repurposing materials and leveraging AI to optimize construction, with completion expected after 2026.
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US power demand expected to jump 2.7% this summer, plus 5 other takeaways from FERC’s open meeting
US power demand is projected to rise 2.7% this summer, driven by factors like warmer weather and data center expansions. Total U.S. summer capacity is expected to increase by 3.4%, with Northern Virginia, Dallas, Chicago, Phoenix, and Northern California being key data center markets. Battery storage capacity is anticipated to grow significantly. NOAA forecasts a hotter-than-normal summer. FERC is taking action on transmission incentives and clarifying DR aggregation requirements. Invenergy’s complaint was denied by FERC regarding its PJM power plant. SPP’s planning reserve margin process is under scrutiny. NERC’s cybersecurity proposal for protecting against cyber threats was approved by FERC.
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Microsoft plows $3.3B into data center at former Foxconn site
Microsoft is investing $3.3 billion in a data center at a former Foxconn site in Mount Pleasant. The project aims to create 2,300 jobs by 2025. To address power constraints, Microsoft is partnering with National Grid Renewables to build a 250-megawatt solar project in Wisconsin. The data center will utilize a closed-loop cooling system to recycle water, addressing environmental concerns. Builders and contractors like MasTec and Jacobs Solutions are eyeing opportunities in this expanding sector.
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AI’s impact on facility operations and data center demand
Building operators and real estate managers utilize AI and data analytics for enhanced decision-making in facilities management and data center demand, as discussed at RETCON 2024 in New York. Experts like Josh Panknin from Columbia University caution the importance of data quality and structuring problems appropriately. Companies like Carr Properties and Empire State Realty Trust leverage AI for automating processes and improving decision-making. Demand for data center space rises due to AI growth, attracting investments from companies like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, and Google. Land and power scarcity drive up lease rates in key data center markets. Cybersecurity concerns regarding data storage are highlighted by experts like MaryJean Koontz.
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Bloom Eyes Opportunities in Data Centers as Net Loss Narrows
Bloom Energy’s Q1 2024 revenue declined 14.5% YoY to $235.3 million, with a net loss narrowing by 24.5% to $56.54 million. CEO KR Sridhar sees growth potential in data centers and AI hardware supply chain sectors in the U.S. and Asia. Operating loss improved to $30.7 million.
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Exelon sees data center, other ‘high-density’ load growth opportunities
Exelon CEO Calvin Butler highlights data center growth opportunities in Illinois and Pennsylvania. PECO Energy, a subsidiary, is prepared for high-density load demands. Exelon’s subsidiary ComEd faces regulatory challenges in Illinois and a one-time distribution rate hike. Financially, Exelon’s first-quarter income slightly decreased due to storm-related costs.
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Microsoft announces largest corporate procurement of renewables
Microsoft has secured a record-breaking corporate power purchase agreement for renewable energy, totaling over 10.5 GW in the United States and Europe. The deal, expected to cost over $11.5 billion, involves solar, wind, and innovative carbon-free technologies. BloombergNEF praises Microsoft’s commitment, highlighting Exelon Corp.’s projection of a 900% surge in Chicago’s power demand due to data center growth.
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Oracle, Google and Meta lead data center construction surge
Data center construction surged in the second half of 2023, with companies like Oracle, Google, and Meta leading the way. Larry Ellison of Oracle emphasized improving construction efficiency. Meta chose Turner Construction for an $800 million data center in Indiana, while Microsoft’s $1 billion data center in Wisconsin is underway.