The announcement of a proposed quantum computing center at the former U.S. Steel South Works site in South Chicago has sparked a flurry of questions and concerns among residents and environmental advocates. The proposed facility, to be run by PsiQuantum, promises to be a cutting-edge addition to the tech landscape, but significant uncertainties about its environmental impact remain. One primary concern relates to the center’s projected energy requirements and water usage.
Residents are questioning whether the facility will draw water from the city’s system or build a direct intake from Lake Michigan. The environmental and legal implications of such a construction project are unclear. Quantum computers require immense cooling, leading to questions about how much water will be needed daily and how wastewater will be managed—whether it will be recycled, dumped back into the lake, or put into the municipal sewer system.
Additionally, the energy demands of the quantum computing center could potentially strain the existing city power grid. Local residents worry that the facility could siphon power away from residential areas, particularly during the peak summer months, possibly causing brownouts or other disruptions. Questions about the ownership of the land also persist.
Quantum center’s environmental and legal issues
There is ambiguity over whether PsiQuantum or another entity has actually acquired the land from USX Corp., the former owner. Past attempts to develop the site, such as the Chicago Lakeside Development Project led by McCaffery Interests, failed partly due to unresolved ownership and environmental cleanup issues.
If the current developers do not own the land, progress on the project could be stalled indefinitely. Despite the excitement around the potential for such a high-tech development, some community members remain skeptical. “The people behind the center, along with the governor and the mayor, seem overly optimistic,” laments John Vukmirovich of Lemont.
“I’m always suspicious of things that glow.”
Others, like Bonnie Dinell-Dimond of Park Forest, express a cautious optimism. Having seen multiple proposals for the site fail over the years—from grand mixed-use community plans to modular housing concepts—the community hopes that this third major attempt might finally succeed. “I am very much into exciting scientific possibilities, but I’ll believe it when I see it,” Dinell-Dimond said.
As the quantum computing project continues to evolve, these myriad concerns—from environmental impact to economic viability and land ownership—will need to be addressed to gain the trust and support of the local community.
