Most Illinois voters support regulations for data centers, poll finds

A poll commissioned by the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition revealed that 68% of Illinois voters support new regulations for data centers operating within the state. Environmental activists are actively advocating for legislation known as the POWER Act to implement these changes. The proposed POWER Act aims to establish new guardrails and protections for data center development. A key provision of the bill would mandate that data center operators bear the financial responsibility for any additional energy costs generated by their facilities, promoting transparency and accountability in their operations. Activists emphasize that data centers must operate responsibly, ensuring their benefits outweigh potential harms to the state.