A 50 megawatt industrial data center is proposed at the former Lockformer site, 711 Ogden. Ave., in Lisle. This has the potential to cause permanent harm to the public health, environment and quality of life in our community. 

(UPDATE 2/17/2026) The Village of Lisle shared a data center update, which says the village is waiting for word from the developer on if and when they would like to proceed. If the developer does decide to move forward, the village has planned to arrange for a public hearing in the Lisle High School gymnasium, according to the announcement. Any hearing will be announced at least 15 days in advance. 

(UPDATE) The Lisle Planning and Zoning Commission public hearing originally scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 21, at Village Hall, was postponed until a larger venue can be found to accommodate public comment. We will be notified at least 15 days before the next meeting.

Cloud Centers, LLC, has applied for a special use permit (Zoning application: 25-1801) for a technology center planned unit development with 10 waivers and requests, including a modification from the maximum allowed principal building height from 35 feet to 60 feet, as well as changes to perimeter/buffer yard landscaping requirements. The application includes a 24-hour sound study that was conducted with one generator running for 15 minutes. Documents related to the application can be viewed on the Village of Lisle website.

A data center poses risks to our community including:

Health risks

• The proposal includes 20 generators and 40 air chillers. Diesel fumes are a known carcinogen, and there is no safe threshold. Any increase poses a health risk. According to the Harvard Business Review, EPA data showed the increased air pollution from Virginia data centers costing an estimated $200-$300 million in additional public health costs. Effects were concentrated around the data centers but spread as far south as Florida. The 20 Cloud Centers generators are for “emergency use," but will require regular testing. Having these generators so close to homes endangers public health.
• The sound study performed by Cloud Centers included only one generator running for 15 minutes. While it may be true the additional noise pollution would not break the noise ordinance, it would endanger public health and welfare, contributing to sleep disturbances, high blood pressure, and other health problems. The study included only dBA sound waves; however communities near data centers around the country also are seeing negative effects of dBC sound pollution. These low frequency sounds have an even greater negative impact on health. Many residents near data centers say they no longer enjoy their backyards, and they can even hear the low hum inside. Cloud Centers data center would be 300 feet from residents. Low frequency tones are hard to mitigate, and can travel 2.5 miles.

Power consumption

• The state of Illinois and the country have an energy supply shortage due to the increased demand from data centers. This increased demand led to electricity rate increases last summer, and it is predicted they will keep rising as more data centers are built. The proposal's huge increase in demand has the potential to cause grid instability in Lisle.

Economic harm

• Decline in nearby property values appears exceedingly likely, given the opposition to data centers both locally and nationwide. According to local realtors, buyers are aware of the concerns around living so close to a data center. As additional studies come out, buyers will likely be avoiding neighborhoods near data centers. This could make Lisle an undesirable community, lowering property values.
• Altering the residential and business aesthetic of Lisle's eastern entrance to an industrial corridor with a hardened, concrete building that does not provide visual interest or local benefit. This building would dwarf any existing building nearby on Ogden Avenue. Given the history of the land, we do not believe a potentially harmful use is the best way forward for Lisle.

The following are criteria the commission must use to review special-use requests:  

(H)   Standards and Review Criteria (Lisle, IL Code of Ordinances, 5-17-12)   No special use permit may be recommended for approval or approved unless:

1. The establishment, maintenance or operation of the special use will not be detrimental to, or endanger the public health, safety or general welfare;
2. The special use will not be injurious to the use and enjoyment of other property in the immediate area for the purposes already permitted, nor substantially diminish and impair property values within the neighborhood;
3. The establishment of the special use will not impede the normal and orderly development and improvement of the adjacent property for uses permitted in the district;
4. The special use in all other respects conforms to the applicable regulations of the district in which it is located, except as such regulations may in each instance be modified by variation by the Village Board.

We, the undersigned residents and neighbors of Lisle, do not believe the proposed data center meets these standards. As one of our neighbors said, "We will not trade a relief in the tax burden for the safety and well-being of our families.”

We oppose development of a large, 24/7 data center proposed for 711 Ogden Ave., Lisle. We call on the Lisle Planning and Zoning Commission to deny the special-use permit requests.