PETITION TO OPPOSE THE ALIGNED DATA CENTER IN COAL CITY, IL
​TO: The Coal City Village Board 

FROM: Concerned Residents and Taxpayers of Coal City 

​Statement of Opposition
​We, the undersigned residents of Coal City, IL formally submit this petition to voice our strong opposition to the proposed Aligned Data Center development on the 300-acre parcel south of Reed Road. While we support economic growth, we believe this specific project poses significant risks to our community’s infrastructure, natural resources, and quality of life that far outweigh the projected benefits.

​Key Areas of Concern
​Strain on the Electrical Grid & Utility Costs: Data centers are massive energy consumers. We are concerned that this project will force the electric company to invest in costly new infrastructure, the burden of which often falls on residential ratepayers. We oppose any development that threatens to increase our monthly utility bills or compromise grid reliability.
​Protection of Our Aquifer: Our region relies on vital groundwater sources. Industrial-scale cooling for a 300-acre data center campus would consume large amounts of water.  We are concerned about the long-term impact on our local water table and the potential for increased water rates for residents.
​Noise and Air Pollution: The cooling fans and massive diesel backup generators required for these facilities produce constant low-frequency noise and emissions. Placing such a facility near residential zones and Coal City Early Childhood Center & Coal City Middle School threatens the peace and health of our students and neighbors.
​Minimal Long-Term Employment: Despite the large footprint, data centers provide very few permanent jobs compared to other industrial uses. We believe our land should be reserved for developments that provide more robust, long-term employment opportunities for local workers.
​Formal Request
​We urge the Village Board to:

​Conduct an independent environmental, health and utility impact study that is made fully transparent to the public before any further votes occur.
​Prioritize the "POWER Act" principles, ensuring that any data center developer is held 100% financially responsible for their own energy and water infrastructure without shifting costs to citizens.