The Will County Data Center Electrical Expansion Boom: How 2025 AI Computing Facilities Drive Massive Power Infrastructure Demand

The artificial intelligence revolution has transformed Will County, Illinois into ground zero for one of the most dramatic electrical infrastructure expansions in modern history. With massive projects like Project Steel planning eighteen data center buildings totaling over 9 million square feet and three electrical substations, and Project Cardinal envisioning fourteen data center buildings totaling over 17 million square feet with two electrical substations and a utility switchyard, the region is experiencing an unprecedented surge in power demand that’s reshaping the entire electrical contracting landscape.

The Scale of AI’s Power Appetite

A typical AI-focused hyperscaler annually consumes as much electricity as 100,000 households, with the larger ones currently under construction expected to use 20 times as much. This exponential growth is driving utilities across the nation to make massive infrastructure investments. Georgia Power recently received authorization to procure 9.9 GW of new generation capacity to serve the rapidly expanding AI data center industry, with data centers consuming roughly 80% of the new power supply.

The numbers are staggering when viewed nationally. Utility power provided to hyperscale, leased and crypto-mining data centers will rise by roughly 11.3 GW in 2025 to 61.8 GW, with US data center demand projected to reach 75.8 GW in 2026 and further expand to 134.4 GW in 2030. The U.S. data center electricity usage is projected to rise from 4% to 7.8% of regional consumption between 2025 and 2030, with worldwide data center electricity consumption rising from 448 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2025 to 980 TWh by 2030.

Will County’s Strategic Position

Will County’s emergence as a data center hub isn’t accidental. The region offers several critical advantages that make it attractive for these massive electrical infrastructure projects. Commercial electricity rates in Illinois average around $0.06 per kWh (ComEd rate), lower than the national average, and Chicago’s climate supports energy efficiency with about 300 days per year cool enough to allow data centers to use outside air for cooling instead of energy-intensive chillers.

The state has also implemented supportive policies. Illinois provides a range of tax incentives to encourage data center development through the Illinois Data Centers Investment Program, offering exemptions from various state and local taxes for qualifying data centers.

Commercial Electrical Infrastructure Challenges

The rapid expansion of data centers is creating unprecedented challenges for commercial electrical contractors. Electrical equipment costs are approximately 25% of a data center project, with the U.S. Chamber Technology Engagement Center noting that the American Society of Professional Estimators found this significant portion of project costs. Companies are competing for scarce infrastructure, increasing prices for essential electrical equipment like transformers, switches and breakers, with analysts noting “We really don’t have the electrical infrastructure to meet the aggressive targets”.

Power availability has become the dominant factor in data center site selection, surpassing traditional considerations such as proximity to metropolitan areas, as developers seek reliable electricity for increasingly large AI workloads. With grid capacity tight in many established markets, operators are seeking non-traditional locations with abundant power or alternatives, such as onsite generation, to meet demand.

The Role of Expert Commercial Electrical Services

For businesses looking to capitalize on or support this electrical infrastructure boom, partnering with experienced contractors is essential. Companies like Jimco Electric, which handles electrical services across Chicago, IL with licensed professionals who show up on time and get the job done safely, providing straight answers and quality work whether dealing with emergencies or planning upgrades, are positioned to help navigate this complex landscape.

The expertise required for data center electrical work goes far beyond traditional commercial projects. High-performance computing demands extreme power density, requiring infrastructure ready for 20kW+ per rack AI workloads, with electricians who don’t just pull wire but understand the complexities of mission-critical environments, from calculating load requirements to implementing concurrent maintainability.

Economic Impact and Consumer Considerations

While the data center boom creates significant opportunities for electrical contractors and related businesses, it also raises concerns about cost impacts on consumers. In the PJM electricity market stretching from Illinois to North Carolina, data centers accounted for an estimated $9.3 billion price increase in the 2025-26 “capacity market,” with the average residential bill expected to rise by $18 a month in western Maryland and $16 a month in Ohio.

Lawmakers across every state considered a total of 238 bills related to data centers in 2025, with a whopping half of that legislation dedicated to addressing energy concerns. This legislative activity reflects growing awareness of the need to balance economic development opportunities with consumer protection.

Looking Forward: Infrastructure Investment Surge

The investment scale required to support this expansion is unprecedented. Electric and gas utilities are forecasting a record increase in capex, expected to jump 22% year over year to US$212 billion in 2025 across 47 utilities, while capital light hyperscalers surpassed capital-intensive utilities in capex, with eight hyperscalers expecting a 44% year-over-year increase to US$371 billion in 2025 for AI data centers and computing resources.

For electrical contractors and businesses in Will County and throughout Illinois, this represents a generational opportunity. The region’s combination of favorable electricity rates, supportive policies, and strategic location positions it as a key player in America’s AI infrastructure buildout. However, success in this market requires partnering with experienced professionals who understand both the technical complexities and the critical nature of data center electrical systems.

As the AI revolution continues to drive massive power infrastructure demand, Commercial Electrical Services Will County, IL providers who can deliver reliable, scalable, and safety-focused solutions will find themselves at the center of one of the most significant infrastructure transformations in modern history. The question isn’t whether this expansion will continue, but rather which contractors and businesses will be prepared to meet the challenge.