Illinois Governor JB Pritzkar, who considers himself a “quantum geek” and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson are investing billions of dollars in quantum computing research and development in partnership with PsiQuantum, the Chicago Quantum Exchange and the Department of Defense. This site will be governed by University of Illinois Systems, where Governor Pritzer is on the Board. 

“The Pritzker administration is providing a total of $500 million in the 2025 state budget for the development of the quantum park, including $200 million in financial incentives for the project, in exchange for a minimum investment of $1.09 billion by PsiQuantum. Another $200 million from the state will go to construction of a cryogenic cooling plant for the quantum computer,” according to CBS news. $140 million will match the defense department’s investment in proving that a Utility-Scale Quantum Computer can be constructed as designed and operated as intended.

Defense Advanced Research Projects (DARPA) is driving investment in PsiQuantum’s vision of a “data-center-sized-computer”. Innovative phonon-based quantum computing research at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering also recently got a $3 million boost by the U.S. Department of Defense. “DARPA has established a framework with the Department of Energy’s Office of Science to plan and coordinate research, development, engineering, and testing quantum computing activities to ensure maximum impact of U.S. government investment and “will be leveraging Department of Defense, quantum scientists and engineers at the Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome, New York”.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson endorsed the deal and the Redevelopment Agreement is in process. “The city will spend $5 million from the city’s housing and economic development bond on the project, " Johnson said. The mayor said he’s also working with Cook County to secure a Class 8 tax incentive for the developers..The tax incentive would assess the property at 10 percent of market value for 10 years, rather than the typical 25 percent. Including the incentive, Johnson estimates PsiQuantum will pay about $100 million in new property taxes over 30 years, according to a Block Club report. 

Zoning, Land Use

According to public reports, “changes to the zoning code to accommodate the unique requirements of a computer-related development such as a data center”. Meanwhile, Governor Pritzkar is seeking to designate areas as a quantum computer campus. 

Construction of the IQMP will occupy 128 acres in the first phase of the 400 acre Master Plan. In addition to PsiQuantum and the cryogenic plant, facilities will include equipment labs and research and office spaces for private companies and universities to collaborate.

The lot where PsiQuantum would be located is zoned for Manufacturing and sits at the mouth of the Calumet River at Lake Michigan, near Steelworker’s Park and Park 566. Parks and Public land along Lake Michigan appear to be subject to Lakefront Protection. Other lots in the project area are currently zoned for Business. 

The separate cryogenic cooling plant will be shared with research partners from the Chicago Quantum Exchange, led by the University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign and includes University of Chicago, Northwestern, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Purdue University, Argonne National Laboratory, and Fermilab. 

PsiQuantum and GlobalFoundaries

PsiQuantum is working with semiconductor manufacturer GlobalFoundries on a blueprint for high-volume fabrication of silicon and photonic and electronic chips. Recently, the US Department of Commerce announced a  $1.5 billion investment in GlobalFoundries which led to expansion of their plant in Malta, NY.  Globalfoundries parent company is Mubadala Investment Company, a state-owned investment company that advances petroleum for the government of Abu Dhabi. 

Related Midwest, CRG, Lamar Johnson Collaborative, Clayco

 Related Midwest is the developer reportedly in the process of purchasing the property from owner, US Steel. They conducted a “listening tour” which I was not on. They are involved in several developments around the city and are part of a national real estate company.  CRG Is also a developer on the project. The designer is Lamar Johnson Collaboratve and the General Contractor is Clayco. 

The Department of Environment (DOE) 

Tovar mentioned barriers to mitigate contamination during construction in an early meeting, she minimized thermal pollution and said they were trying to figure out how to send heat back to the community. She was observed at the last meeting but did not take the stage. There were no environmental impacts on the slides presented at the first community meeting. I have sent emails following up on request for information at the last meeting, no response. 

IL EPA

The recently appointed IEPA Acting Director attended the first community meeting and records on USX remediation that were not previously available have recently come online. Residents are very concerned about the remediation, or lack thereof, and the EPA’s stance that there is No Further Remediation and that the property is safe for residential use. Preliminary review indicates that the NFR letter may not cover the entire site and that contamination has been recently noted around the slips. 

150 high tech research jobs will be coordinated by the University-Related Organization. Other related industry funding includes Bloch Tech Grants. And the FBI is also working with Bloch Tech Hub. 

If approved, the first phase of the development is scheduled to be completed in 2027. Planned Development requires public notification, community engagement, review by the Plan Commission, and a favorable vote by City Council for approval. No application has been filed, however, there may be urgency around getting a deal done before the election. This means that an application could get filed right after the next community meeting. __________________________________________________________________________

Concerns: Environmental Justice Impacts

Energy Intensive Use

• Will draw from the community’s energy grid 

• Could raise utility costs due to increased demand for energy

• Has a high heat output 

• Heat Island, Heat Dome and Equity https://www.epa.gov/heatislands/heat-islands-and-equity 

• https://www.opb.org/pdf/multco-heat-report-final-06262022_1656296951051.pdf 

Water Intensive Use, Thermal Water Pollution

• The intake source, City water, Lake Michigan or Calumet River, has not been identified

• Thermal Water Pollution wastewater with an elevated temperature will be discharged from the facility

• Chemical Water Pollution - City denies

Air

• Increase greenhouse gas emissions

• Helium gas will be used for a shared cryogenics plant and in the facility to cool particle accelerators

• Buffers will be installed to mitigate noise from compressors

• 10-15 more trucks daily during peak construction and then a “few” trucks during daily operations

• Release environmental impact reports

• Conduct a data and analysis-driven Health impact assessment - 

• End discriminatory land use practices - follow their rules - public notification

• Gather meaningful community input

• Address feedback