Chicago Citizens Group Calls on Officials to Slow Quantum Computer Development

Inside Short

• Residents of Chicago’s Southeast Side are asking city and state officials to delay development of a quantum computing campus at the former US Steel South Works site, citing concerns about public benefits and pollution.
• The Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, sponsored by PsiQuantum, promises $20 billion in economic benefits, with many public incentives already in place.
• Residents are seeking legally binding agreements for jobs, environmental safety and investment in local schools before the project can move forward, with the next public meeting scheduled for October 29.

Not everyone believes that Chicago is in a good position to host a quantum technology campus, reports a Chicago radio station. WBEZ Chicago reports that residents and community organizations in Southeast Chicago are lobbying city and state officials to delay development of a proposed quantum computing campus at the former US Steel South Works site.

According to the report, the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park project, supported by Silicon Valley startup PsiQuantum, was announced this summer, promising a significant economic impact. However, residents, led by the Alliance of the Southeast, want a formal agreement on public benefits before the city and state accept zoning changes and tax incentives.

The project has attracted attention because of its size and potential economic benefits. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker described it as a step toward making the state a place of economic development, predicting up to $20 billion in economic impact, WBEZ reported. PsiQuantum expects the park to create 150 jobs within five years, in positions ranging from engineers to finance and human resources. The campus would occupy 440 acres, and local officials have already made several public incentives, including $300 million from the state and some tax breaks from the city of Chicago.

Despite those promises, residents expressed concerns about the lack of community engagement and potential negative consequences, including environmental hazards and displacement.

In a press conference organized by the Alliance of the Southeast, Executive Director Amalia NietoGomez criticized the rapid pace of development.

“This discussion is moving at a high speed,” he said. “We need to have real benefits for the community. We need to have these conversations, and we need this to slow down,” WBEZ reported.

NietoGomez and others stressed that the public meetings on the project only started after a lot of pressure from local groups, and they remain dissatisfied with the responses they received. The Alliance is calling for an agreement that guarantees jobs with living wages for local residents, investment in schools and measures to prevent displacement.

Environmental concerns were also raised about the potential impact of construction on the site, which has a history of industrial pollution.

Anne Holcomb, a representative of environmental group ETHOS, raised concerns about pollution.

“I live two counties from this place,” he said. “We can’t be the unwilling beneficiaries of the pollution that’s going into our bodies from those things.”

State officials considered the site safe to operate in 1997, but inspections were conducted in 2006 and 2010, according to the report. However, environmental risks are still a major concern for residents who fear pollution from the quantum campus.

One resident said that the money could be used for other public projects.

“We hear about the benefits of the world…a possible cure, a new medicine, a new climate solution [change],” said Clifton Muhammad, a business owner in the area, but added that “local sacrifices, local tax benefits” could go to schools and public parks.

The developer, Related Midwest, plans to begin work in early 2025. It has partnered with local organizations such as the United Way of Metro Chicago to create a Quality of Life Plan for the area, but questions remain about whether they will agree. and legally binding society. benefits agreement.

WBEZ noted that city and state officials have not responded to questions about the project’s status and community concerns. Residents continue to push for an agreement that guarantees tangible benefits for the local community before the quantum park project goes ahead. The next public meeting is scheduled for October 29.