Illinois data centers promise 121K jobs, but only 2,800 will be permanent

The Illinois Economic Policy Institute estimates $57 billion in data center construction through 2035 would create 121,000 jobs, yet only 2,800 permanent positions would remain. Household electricity bills could rise by about $150 a year.

• $57B in Illinois data center investment by 2035 would create 121,000 jobs
• Only 2,800 positions would be permanent — about $20.2M per lasting job
• Residential power bills could rise roughly $12 a month, or $150 a year
• Data centers would add 6.5 GW of demand and nearly 10% to system costs