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Data center campus · In and around the Village of Essex, near the Braidwood Clean Energy Center, Kankakee County, Illinois

Constellation Essex land assembly

Site zoned or marketed as of July 13, 2026

Constellation Energy has bought at least 505 acres in and near Essex (residents say more than 700) and asked the village to annex part of it to market power from the nearby Braidwood nuclear plant to future developers.

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PowerNot statedNot reported in the records found
Site505acres

Who is behind it

ProjectConstellation Essex land assembly
Developer and teamConstellation Energy
End userNot found in the recordsNot yet named in any record or credited report we have found.

The record, newest first

  1. The village said it was at the start of reviewing the annexation request, with a deadline of Aug. 24. (FOX 32 Chicago, July 13, 2026)

  2. The village posted a notice setting development standards and mitigation requirements for a data center that may locate in Essex (notice date not reported). (FOX 32 Chicago, July 13, 2026; FOX 32 Chicago, July 15, 2026)

  3. Constellation petitioned the village to annex two parcels. (FOX 32 Chicago, July 13, 2026)

  4. Constellation began a series of 14 land purchases in and near Essex, totaling about $47.5 million. (FOX 32 Chicago, July 13, 2026; FOX 32 Chicago, July 15, 2026)

Conflicts and open questions

  • At least 505 acres confirmed in county records (June 2025 to Feb. 2026); residents report more than 700 acres. acres set to the confirmed figure.
  • Coordinates approximate, based on Essex village. The Braidwood plant itself is in Will County.

The full record

Status note
Constellation has bought land and petitioned for annexation to market Braidwood's power; it says it has no customer at this time.
Evidence
News reports; primary records not yet obtained
Size class
50 MW or more (tracker scope)
Map position approximate, from the reported address or area. Updated Oct. 17, 2026.