Legislators weigh data center issues as Pritzker pushes POWER Act
Community opposition in Mahomet has deterred local officials from continuing discussions with Clean Cloud Energy about a potential data center, largely because of concerns about impacts to the Mahomet aquifer, which supplies drinking water to about one million people. Illinois lawmakers are weighing statewide data center regulations, including Gov. J.B. Pritzker's proposed POWER Act and a bill that would give counties greater regulatory authority.
Community members in Mahomet pushed local officials to stop discussions with Clean Cloud Energy about a potential data center shortly after negotiations began. Residents cited concerns that conventional evaporative cooling could place pressure on the Mahomet aquifer, a drinking-water source for roughly one million people in central Illinois.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker is urging the Illinois General Assembly to consider the POWER Act, which would require new data centers to support renewable energy projects and use closed-loop cooling if they use water. State Sen. Chapin Rose criticized lawmakers for failing to enact rules earlier, while Rep. Jeff Keicher argued that water use at a Meta data center in DeKalb has been overstated. Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer separately introduced legislation allowing counties to regulate data center size, location and water use, with lawmakers expected to revisit the issue during the fall veto session.