Peter Marin

To the Grayslake Community:

Hello, my name is Pete Marin and I am the CEO & Chairman of T5 Data Centers. I’m writing because I want you to hear directly from me about the Cornerstone Data Center Development at Grayslake, the historic investment we are making in this community, and our commitment to developing it responsibly.

Since 1994, I’ve spent my career building data centers in partnership with communities across the country. From the dot-com era, to the rise of smartphones, to the streaming revolution and now the advent of AI, I’ve watched this industry evolve as technology creates new opportunities for how we live, learn, work and stay connected. And while a lot has changed since I first started in this industry, the responsibility to build this infrastructure the right way has remained paramount.

I understand the questions surrounding this project are personal – they affect your home, your family and the community within which you live. Those are the same things that matter deeply to me in my own life, and I understand why you want clear answers about what this development will mean for Grayslake.

I believe strongly that communities hosting data centers should benefit from them. We’ve worked to deliver on that commitment in Elk Grove and communities across the country, and I’m proud that Cornerstone is expected to generate more than $1.4 billion in new local revenue over the next 20 years.

Those dollars will be put to work right here in Grayslake – in local schools, parks and libraries, at the College of Lake County, and in supporting the firefighters and first responders who keep the community safe. Over the seven-to-ten-year buildout, the project is expected to support up to 1,500+ construction and trade jobs, giving more residents the opportunity to build a good-paying career close to home. According to public statements, the Village is also exploring ways to put this money directly in your pockets as direct household property tax relief.

These benefits only mean something if we build responsibly and listen when the community raises concerns.

As a first step, we indefinitely suspended our Individual Permit Application for wetland remediation. We want to move at a pace that reflects community readiness, and that means listening carefully, addressing concerns directly, and making sure residents feel heard as the project advances. We believe we have answers now to most of your questions.

I know Grayslake residents have real questions about power, sound and water, and what each could mean for their homes and families. I want to address those directly.

On power, T5 is fully committed to paying its full share of power costs, period. We’re funding our own substation and dedicated distribution infrastructure, physically separate from the lines that serve your home, and under Illinois law, data centers always pay their own separate rates.

Regarding sound, independent engineers have designed protections into every building, including acoustic enclosures, acoustic deadening mufflers, and sound absorptive screening. Sound levels are regulated by the Illinois Pollution Control Board at all times, and our modeling shows operations will often be quieter than existing traffic on Peterson Road. Additionally, we are building berms and expansive landscaping to mitigate any impact to the homes nearest to the site. We know peace and quiet at home matters and we take that responsibility seriously.

And on water, Cornerstone will use closed-loop cooling systems for each building that are filled once, then sealed and reused for decades. That keeps the campus’s water use at less than 0.25% of the Lake County Joint Action Water Agency’s daily flow. Long term, the facility will use less water than a typical car wash. Additionally, no PFAS will be used in the closed-loop cooling system – something we take incredibly seriously.

Ultimately, we know trust is built through actions, not promises. If three decades of experience have taught me anything, it is that our responsibility does not end when construction is complete. We have to earn our place in a community by listening, following through and doing what we say we will do.

That is the kind of neighbor I want T5 to be in Grayslake, and the standard I expect us to meet for years to come. For any questions, comments or concerns you have, we’re here to listen, so please send us a note.

Sincerely,