Illinois Data Centers' Energy Demand, Urban Redevelopment Discussed in Public Letters
Data centers are identified as a primary cause of skyrocketing power prices in Illinois, contributing significantly to a record $16.4 billion power auction in the PJM 13-state footprint. Illinois lawmakers are considering the POWER Act (HB5513/SB4016) which would require data centers to "bring your own new clean energy" to address grid strain. Separately, a letter advocates for converting vacant Chicago office towers into data centers to generate tax revenue and utilize existing infrastructure.
The Chicago Tribune published letters discussing the impact of data centers on Illinois' power grid and urban development. Nick Wallace, senior associate attorney at the Environmental Law & Policy Center in Chicago, argued that the surge in data centers, not the state's clean energy law, is the primary cause of skyrocketing power prices across PJM's 13-state region, contributing $6.3 billion to this year's record $16.4 billion power auction. Wallace highlighted that ComEd alone has over 75 data center projects awaiting connection, seeking 28,000 megawatts, more than double the utility's all-time peak demand. He advocates for the POWER Act (HB5513/SB4016) before Springfield lawmakers, which proposes requiring data centers to "bring your own new clean energy" (BYONCE) and pay for their infrastructure.
Another letter addressed a Tribune editorial opposing the use of vacant Chicago Loop office buildings for data centers. The writer countered that with a 28% downtown office vacancy rate, converting these landmarked structures into data centers would generate much-needed property tax revenue for Cook County and bring new uses to the area, utilizing existing infrastructure like ComEd's downtown substation and Lake Michigan's water for cooling, without significant additional noise compared to the "L" train.
Additionally, Erin Aleman, executive director of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), responded to an editorial about climate migration, emphasizing that CMAP's long-range planning for northeastern Illinois considers a broad range of factors beyond climate, focusing on economic, demographic, and technological shifts to maintain quality of life and economic prosperity through the development of The Century Plan.