Will County Board Graphic.03

Will County Approves Diamond Enterprise Zone Expansion to Support $355 Million Energy Investment

Spread the love

Will County Executive Committee Meeting | March 12, 2026

Article Summary: The Will County Executive Committee unanimously approved ordinances expanding the Diamond Enterprise Zone to include the Village of Braceville. The strategic boundary amendment will facilitate a massive $355 million capital investment by Constellation Energy Generation to upgrade the Braidwood Clean Energy Center.

Diamond Enterprise Zone Expansion Key Points:

  • Resolution 26-4321 and Resolution 26-4322 authorize the expansion of the Diamond Enterprise Zone and the execution of an Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement.

  • The expansion adds the Village of Braceville as a new unit of government to the Enterprise Zone.

  • The boundary amendment adds a 109.99-acre expansion area specifically to support Constellation Energy Generation, LLC.

  • Constellation plans to invest over $355,000,000 to increase energy output, extend the facility’s lifespan, and improve equipment durability at the site.

The Will County Board Executive Committee on Thursday, March 12, 2026, unanimously approved a strategic economic development maneuver, expanding the Diamond Enterprise Zone to pave the way for a $355 million energy infrastructure investment.

The committee advanced Resolutions 26-4321 and 26-4322, which formally amend the boundaries of the Diamond Enterprise Zone to include territory within the corporate limits of the Village of Braceville, effectively adding Braceville as a new unit of government to the zone’s operational agreement.

According to the intergovernmental cooperation agreement provided in the agenda packet, the expansion connects the existing enterprise zone via a 3-foot-wide connecting strip to a 109.99-acre site controlled by Constellation Energy Generation, LLC.

The boundary amendment is a direct catalyst for massive regional economic development. The ordinance notes that Constellation intends to invest over $355,000,000.00 into the Braidwood Clean Energy Center site. The capital investment will fund various real and personal property improvements designed to increase the facility’s energy output, extend its operational lifespan, and enhance equipment durability.

By pulling the facility into the Diamond Enterprise Zone, Constellation will be eligible for specific building materials sales tax exemptions, limited to the standard 6.25% sales tax rate on approved materials, incentivizing the massive construction project.

The resolutions passed the committee without opposition and will advance to the full Will County Board for final certification.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

MAHA-style bill would close food additive safety loophole

MAHA-style bill would close food additive safety loophole

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square With deregulation-focused Republicans in Congress reluctant to fulfill the industry-wary goals of the Make America Healthy Again initiative, some Democrats are taking up the torch....
Committee of teh Whole 8.12.25

Will County Board Gets Back to Basics with Robert’s Rules of Order Training

Article Summary: The Will County Board Committee of the Whole received a detailed training session on Robert's Rules of Order from parliamentary expert Matthew Prochaska to clarify procedures for conducting...
Exec Cmte 8.14.25.1

Executive Committee Approves Amended Houbolt Bridge Agreement to Settle Litigation

Article Summary: The Will County Executive Committee has approved an amendment to the Houbolt Road Toll Bridge agreement, formalizing a settlement between the bridge operators and the City of Joliet....
manhattan fire district graphic logo.1

Manhattan Fire District Awards Initial Bids for New Station, Re-bids Four Items to Cut Costs

Article Summary: The Manhattan Fire Protection District board approved most construction bids for its new fire station during a special meeting, but will re-bid roofing, flooring, overhead doors, and landscaping...
Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Committee of the Whole for August 12, 2025

The Will County Board’s Committee of the Whole dedicated its August 12 meeting to an in-depth training session on Robert’s Rules of Order, aiming to foster more efficient and orderly...
Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Ad-Hoc Ordinance Review Committee for August 12, 2025

The Will County Ad-Hoc Ordinance Review Committee advanced several updated chapters of the county’s public works code during its August 12 meeting, addressing topics from solid waste to waste hauler...
Legislators criticize Illinois’ utility policies as ‘unsustainable’

Legislators criticize Illinois’ utility policies as ‘unsustainable’

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s law banning utility shutoffs during extreme heat and cold is sparking concerns over rising...
D.C. attorney general sues Trump administration, claiming 'unlawful' takeover

D.C. attorney general sues Trump administration, claiming ‘unlawful’ takeover

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Days after President Donald Trump declared “Liberation Day” by federalizing the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and deploying hundreds of National Guard members to curb...
What’s on the table for Trump’s meeting with Putin?

What’s on the table for Trump’s meeting with Putin?

By Caroline BodaThe Center Square President Donald Trump is flying to Alaska on Friday for a high-stakes meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss terms for a ceasefire in...
WATCH: Illinois In Focus Daily | Friday Aug. 15th, 2025

WATCH: Illinois In Focus Daily | Friday Aug. 15th, 2025

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop talks with gun...
Illinois quick hits: Ex-student sentenced for school gun, time served; fall semester beginning

Illinois quick hits: Ex-student sentenced for school gun, time served; fall semester beginning

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Ex-student sentenced for school gun, time served A former Chicago Public Schools student has been sentenced to five years in prison...
WCO-Landfill-8.5.25.2

Report Finding Few Trucks Littering Sparks Debate on Cleanup Responsibility

Article Summary: A Will County report found that a very small percentage of waste-hauling trucks are the source of litter on roadways near the county landfill, sparking a debate among...
Illinois quick hits: Search continues for Gibson City suspect; manufacturing declines since 2000

Illinois quick hits: Search continues for Gibson City suspect; manufacturing declines since 2000

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Search continues for Gibson City suspect Illinois State Police continue their search for a suspect wanted in connection with a Gibson...
WATCH: Map debate, case against Texas Democrats continues in Illinois

WATCH: Map debate, case against Texas Democrats continues in Illinois

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois Republican lawmaker says a judge’s ruling this week did not end the case against Texas...
WATCH: Illinois GOP State Fair rally takes aim at Pritzker, ‘woke agenda’

WATCH: Illinois GOP State Fair rally takes aim at Pritzker, ‘woke agenda’

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) − Republicans took their turn at the Illinois State Fair to call out Illinois Democrats for what the...