Johnson regulates Chicago data centers, wants moratorium
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order to regulate existing data centers and created a task force to update city rules. He also called on the City Council to pass a moratorium on new data center development and urged state lawmakers to pass the POWER Act to address energy demands.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has taken steps to regulate data center development within the city, potentially making Chicago one of the largest U.S. cities to halt new facilities. On Tuesday, Mayor Johnson signed an executive order directing city agencies, including the Department of Environment, to strengthen conditions for air pollution control permits and issue new data center regulations within 90 days. The order also established a new task force to create and update relevant city codes.
While the mayor lacks the authority to unilaterally block new data centers, he urged the City Council to pass a moratorium on their development when they reconvene next month. Additionally, Johnson called on the Illinois General Assembly to pass the Protecting Our Water, Energy, and Ratepayers (POWER) Act during their fall veto session. Governor J.B. Pritzker has also advocated for the POWER Act, which failed to advance in the spring session. This statewide legislation aims to expand permit requirements, mandate energy consumption reporting, fund community initiatives, and require water conservation plans for new data centers, addressing concerns about strain on the electric grid from increasing data center demand.