Survey backs up concerns about data centers

Capitol City Now reports that a new survey, released by the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, confirms significant public concern among Illinoisans regarding the proliferation of data centers across the state, with specific mention of Sangamon County. State House Majority Leader Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston) and State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) highlighted these findings at a Chicago news conference. Both lawmakers expressed that residents are gravely concerned about the environmental, economic, and public health impacts of these facilities. The survey also supports regulatory measures such as those outlined in the proposed "POWER Act," sponsored by Gabel and Villivalam. The legislators are actively working to pass this bill before the May 31 adjournment, with Senator Villivalam noting that the goal is not to prohibit data centers but to establish clear guidelines for their development. Locally, Springfield activist Lori McKiernan advocated for mandatory community benefit agreements for data center projects. This advocacy comes in the context of the Sangamon County Board's recent approval on April 7 of zoning for a CyrusOne data center, a project planned for southern Sangamon County that currently lacks such an agreement.