Exciting Insider Brief: Chicago’s Southeast Side Residents Rally Against Quantum Computing Campus Development
Residents on Chicago’s Southeast Side are raising their voices to slow down the development of a massive quantum computing campus at the former U.S. Steel South Works site. Their concerns revolve around community benefits and pollution, sparking a heated debate among city and state officials.
- The Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, led by PsiQuantum, boasts a promising $20 billion economic impact, with significant public incentives already on the table.
- Residents are insisting on legally binding agreements for jobs, environmental safety measures, and investments in local schools before giving the green light for the project. The next public meeting is slated for October 29.
According to a report by WBEZ Chicago, not everyone is convinced that Chicago is the right fit for a quantum technology campus. The Alliance of the Southeast, along with other community organizations, is urging officials to pump the brakes on the ambitious project.
The proposed park, anchored by Silicon Valley powerhouse PsiQuantum, aims to create economic waves. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker sees it as a golden opportunity to establish the state as a quantum development hub. However, concerns about community engagement, environmental risks, and displacement loom large.
Residents, led by the Alliance of the Southeast, are demanding a community benefits agreement as a prerequisite for zoning modifications and tax incentives. They want assurances on job creation, educational investments, and safeguards against negative impacts.
But the clock is ticking. Anne Holcomb from the environmental group ETHOS emphasized worries about contamination from construction at the site, which has a history of industrial pollution.
While the developer, Related Midwest, plans to kick off construction in early 2025, questions persist about the fate of a legally binding community benefits agreement. Residents are pushing for tangible benefits for their community before the quantum park project proceeds.
The next public meeting scheduled for October 29 is poised to be a pivotal moment in this high-stakes battle.