12/02/2023
Proud to have been on site from the beginning as the Fire Sprinkler contractor.
DeKalb, we are online!
We are thrilled to announce Meta’s DeKalb Data Center is now serving traffic. That means this data center is now part of our global infrastructure that brings our technologies and services to life, making it possible to connect billions of people worldwide.
Since we broke ground on this data center in 2020, DeKalb has become our home. We chose this location because it offered excellent infrastructure, access to renewable energy, a strong pool of talent for both construction and operations staff, and great community partners that have helped us move forward quickly. Construction of the DeKalb Data Center has resulted in an average of 1,200 skilled trade workers on site at peak. Once fully operational, we anticipate this facility will support more than 200 jobs and will represent an investment of more than $1 billion in the state of Illinois.
From the beginning, we have been committed to being an active part of the community and investing in its long-term vitality. As part of that commitment, we are also announcing today a new partnership with Northern Illinois University (NIU) through a program that addresses the gap of underrepresented populations in STEM careers. Meta is supporting the NIU Barb City STEAM Studio — a new, year-round initiative on the NIU campus designed to increase college and career readiness for DeKalb School District 428’s DeKalb High School students interested in engineering, robotics and other in-demand fields.
Like all of our data centers, DeKalb Data Center is supported by 100% renewable energy. Meta has contracts in place for two projects in DeWitt and Morgan counties that are adding 300 megawatts of renewable energy in Illinois. Meta also prioritizes water stewardship, and we have the global goal to be water positive in 2030. Our water stewardship program focuses on minimizing data center water use, restoring water to local watersheds, and being transparent with our water data. This data center is also the site of a pilot project, done in partnership with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, to develop a more sustainable concrete mix with the help of artificial intelligence.
Thank you to the Office of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Afton Township, DeKalb County Government, City of DeKalb, DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation - DCEDC, Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, ComEd, the Kishwaukee Water Reclamation District, Mortenson, and all of our local partners for helping us get to today. We are extremely proud to be part of the DeKalb community and look forward to continuing to strengthen our partnership for years to come.
Here’s what people at today’s opening event had to say:
“Illinois is leading the country in development of data center sites, and I’m thrilled Meta took note of our commitment and decided to invest in DeKalb. With the opening of this new site, we have another opportunity to connect Illinois to the global technology network while creating hundreds of new jobs, all while preparing young workers for the needs of a 21st century workforce with the support of Meta’s investments.” - Governor J.B. Pritzker
“From day one, Meta stated their goal was to make a significant impact in DeKalb, and they have exceeded this in many ways. They have created hundreds of new jobs, diversified our tax base, and invested in our nonprofit community. I couldn’t be prouder of the corporate partner they have been.” - Mayor Cohen Barnes, City of DeKalb
“Meta has brought together brilliant minds, with a passion for doing the untried and unexpected so that we can communicate better and faster with any point in the world. It is a measure of the speed and scale of what Meta has accomplished that our DeKalb Data Center can help make data instantly accessible to hundreds of millions of people around the globe.” - Bill Nicklas, City Manager, City of DeKalb
“ComEd is proud to partner with Meta and the city of DeKalb in powering this state-of-the-art campus that will fuel today’s growing digital economy while bringing jobs and economic activity to our communities. With access to strong infrastructure, a top-notch workforce and the best-in-the-nation electric reliability, it’s no surprise that northern Illinois is a thriving hub for data centers. We look forward to powering the continued growth of Meta and the data center industry here in Illinois.” - Gil Quiniones, CEO, ComEd
“Meta and NIU share a strong commitment to ensuring access for all to STEM education and to developing the diverse workforce our region needs to thrive. Meta has been a valued partner to NIU since the company first announced its intent to build in DeKalb County. We are grateful to Meta leaders for their vision, active engagement and investment in our community.” - Dr. Lisa Freeman, President, Northern Illinois University
“We are pleased to work together with Meta and Illinois leadership for the economic benefit of Illinois businesses and residents. This is a model for what can be accomplished through effective partnerships among communities, government and private industry. Welcome, Meta.“ - Jerry Krusinski, manager of ChicagoWest Business Center
