Illinois weighs new data center limits as massive projects reshape towns

Illinois lawmakers convened legislative hearings in Springfield to discuss the proposed Illinois POWER Act, a bill introduced in February aimed at regulating future data center developments. The legislation seeks to address local impacts on energy prices, water use, and environmental concerns, as large-scale data center projects reshape communities across the state. The House Executive Committee heard testimony from a diverse group of stakeholders, including mayors, labor union representatives, data center industry groups, and community activists. State Rep. Ann Williams, D-Chicago, chair of the committee, emphasized the goal of fostering development while prioritizing community needs. DeKalb Mayor Cohen Barnes and Aurora Mayor John Laesch shared their experiences, noting that data centers, such as Meta's $1 billion facility in DeKalb and Edged's approved 560-acre project, bring significant union jobs and property tax revenue. Barnes highlighted DeKalb School District 428's ability to fund a new elementary school partly due to increased property taxes from Meta's data center. He advocated for local control over mandating community benefits, preferring economic development benefits like property and utility taxes, and job creation. However, community opposition was also voiced. Portia Gallegos from Joliet Residents for Responsible Growth spoke against a recently approved 795-acre data center in Joliet. Marc Ayers, who resigned from the Sangamon County Board after voting against a $500 million CyrusOne data center, expressed concerns about noise pollution, citing issues with an existing CyrusOne facility in Aurora. Conversely, Mark Poulos of Operating Engineers Local 150 supported data center development, arguing that it brings necessary jobs and economic competitiveness, while State Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore, warned against "fear-mongering" that could deter investment in Illinois.