Daily Digest — June 1, 2026
Illinois POWER Act Stalls as Spring Session Ends
The Protecting Our Energy, Water and Ratepayers (POWER) Act failed to reach a floor vote before the Illinois General Assembly's May 31 deadline, according to Eyewitness News and STLPR. The bill sought to mandate environmental impact disclosures, require renewable energy sourcing, prohibit non-disclosure agreements, and impose reporting requirements on water and energy use for large data center developers.
Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) described the POWER Act as the "most comprehensive data center legislation in the nation." Sponsors indicated negotiations with stakeholders would continue over the summer, with the bill potentially reconsidered during the fall veto session, as reported by STLPR.
With the bill stalled, attention has shifted to Gov. JB Pritzker's proposal to pause the state's data center tax credit program. House Majority Leader Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston) has backed suspending the incentives, which have totaled nearly $1 billion since 2019, according to STLPR. The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition has urged legislative leaders to convene a negotiating table by the end of June.
Reno Residents Rally Ahead of Permanent Data Center Moratorium Discussion
Opponents of data center development rallied in Reno, Nevada, before a special City Council meeting to discuss a permanent moratorium on data centers, according to This Is Reno. The rally specifically targeted CENTRA's Keystone Data Center project. Residents voiced environmental concerns and frustration over the city's handling of data center policy as a temporary moratorium nears its end.
Arkansas Data Center Debates Intensify in Pulaski County and Little Rock
A Black Baptist pastor and Pulaski County judge candidate, Wendell Griffen, was suspended from Facebook after posting a position statement advocating for a 12-month moratorium on permitting data centers, AI campuses, and cryptocurrency mining operations in Pulaski County, according to Baptist News Global. Griffen suspects the suspension is linked to his advocacy. The Pulaski County Quorum Court's recent vote on a similar moratorium was initially miscounted as passing before being corrected — the measure failed to achieve the required two-thirds majority, with only eight of 15 justices of the peace voting in favor.
Separately, the Little Rock Board of Directors is set to vote this week on proposed data center regulations, but the city's Sustainability Commission has urged a delay, calling the rules too weak, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. The commission heard testimony that a planned Google data center at the Port of Little Rock could draw up to 4 million gallons of water per day. Google's plans reportedly involve filling 17 acres of wetlands and 6,500 linear feet of streams. Central Arkansas Water CEO Tad Bohannon affirmed the utility has adequate capacity but noted the data center would be the largest water user at the port.
Ohio Faces Multiple Data Center Policy Debates
Ohio's Joint Data Center Committee has begun hearings to assess the statewide impact of data center projects, according to Hometown Stations. Gov. Mike DeWine has ordered a hold on tax exemptions for future data center developments after existing exemptions surpassed $1 billion. Approximately 200 data centers currently operate in Ohio.
In the Mahoning Valley, Zah Zaharis is advancing plans for a data center and power grid in Yellow Creek Township, Columbiana County, while Warren City Council is considering a city-wide ban on data centers, according to WFMJ. The proposed ban has been pushed to a first reading. A potential statewide ballot amendment to ban data centers is also under discussion. Industry consultant Paul Hugenberg warned that such a move could drive investment out of Ohio, citing New York's experience with a Bitcoin mining moratorium.
