SPECIAL REPORT: Huntley, IL Has Capacity, Connection And Cooperation

Huntley, IL – Data Center Sites. (Credit: Google Earth)

By Business Facilities Staff 
From the September/October 2013 issue

Nestled within Chicago’s “Golden Corridor” in the Midwest’s largest market, Huntley, IL has long been a popular destination for businesses looking to reach the masses. And though the community has many obvious assets, including its transportation network, fast track permitting and high growth rate, it provides something extra valuable for those in the data business.

While many in suburban Chicago are taking note of Huntley’s new $200-million hospital set to start construction this fall, and its new full-access interchange on I-90 at Route 47, others in data and technology fields are recognizing Huntley’s access to dark fiber, abundant new power and large quantities of water available for cooling datacenters.

Huntley’s unique location, with convergence of power and fiber, has resulted in site selectors contacting the community’s economic development team. Since those initial inquiries, Economic Development staff have worked proactively to communicate Huntley’s resources available to datacenter, call center and high data usage back office users.

Their activities are paying dividends. Participation in recent datacenter conferences, and Victor Narusis’ panelist role at the recent Chicago Data Center Summit, have raised Huntley’s awareness and stock. Patrick Davis, Senior Design Phase Manager with the Chicago office of Mortenson Construction is impressed with Huntley. “Few communities in the Chicago area understand the resources necessary to accommodate heavy data users, and even fewer actually have those resources available. Huntley’s resources, cooperative attitude and interest in welcoming data centers make it unique among suburban Chicago locations.”

Huntley is located 30 minutes east of Chicago’s O’Hare Airport on the Illinois Tollway Authority’s dark-fiber line, which represents the northern leg of the Northern Illinois Technology Triangle.

While location and power/fiber availability are key to Huntley’s data resources, other important elements make Huntley an attractive location for large data users.

RECIPE FOR DATA SUCCESS

Huntley’s recipe for success includes:

Power Reliability and Quality: Huntley benefits from being within ComEd’s footprint, one of the most reliable and least costly in the Midwest and U.S.

Electrical Capacity: ComEd, the area’s electrical distribution firm and primary supplier, is in the process of completing new high capacity transmission lines which border Huntley’s 500 acres of industrial and business park areas. Furthermore, the Sanwald Road substation built in 2007 is capable of significant expansion.

Cooling and Green Solutions: Huntley possesses grey water availability up to 1 million GPD for cooling needs at costs of nearly one-third that of most suburban Chicago communities. Additionally, Chicago’s climate provides many months of “free cooling,” further minimizing the need for water to cool important equipment.

Nominal Natural Disasters: The Chicago area experiences virtually no wide-area natural disasters other than the occasional snowstorm. No earthquakes above magnitude 3.8 and no hurricanes have been recorded in Chicago since consistent record keeping began in 1871.

With more than 500 acres of business parkland available, and over 200 of that with roadway access and utilities, Huntley’s Economic Development staff are working aggressively to bring new users and assist in promoting the growth of its existing industry. To learn more about Huntley, visit their website at www.HuntleyFirst.com or contact Vic Narusis or (847) 515-5268.