Lawmakers hear debate over data centers including revenue, headaches

Illinois state lawmakers have initiated a series of investigative hearings to examine the widespread effects of data center developments across the state. This comes as over 100 new data center projects have advanced in Illinois in recent years, prompting state representatives to gather input from local government leaders and affected residents. The hearings aim to inform future legislation regarding the rapidly expanding industry. DeKalb Mayor Cohen Barnes testified that a Meta data center, operational since 2023, has significantly reduced property taxes for residents, dropping local aggregate rates from 11.5% to 7.9%. He noted the DeKalb school district alone benefits from an additional $19 million annually due to Meta's presence. Aurora Mayor John Laesch also acknowledged the financial gains, anticipating approximately $1.6 million annually in property and utility taxes for his city. However, Mayor Laesch also raised concerns from Aurora residents regarding increased power consumption amid rising regional rates and persistent low-frequency noise pollution from data centers. Residents reported trouble sleeping, increased stress, and a loss of quiet. Rep. Dan Ugaste drew parallels to noise complaints from rural constituents about renewable energy projects. Laesch indicated that current state regulations make it difficult to address such noise issues, suggesting that legislative changes could help set stricter sound limits. Marc Ayers, a former Sangamon County Board Representative, spoke about the contentious debate surrounding a proposed CyrusOne data center near Springfield. While unions supported the project, activists voiced strong opposition, particularly over energy usage. Despite Ayers voting against it, the Sangamon County Board approved the necessary zoning changes for the data center to proceed, highlighting the ongoing need for clearer information on data center operations.