Gov. JB Pritzker turns to Illinois lawmakers to act on data center regulations
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is not pursuing a statewide moratorium on new data centers, stating he lacks the authority to impose one. Instead, he is pushing for the Illinois General Assembly to pass strong regulations on data centers, such as the POWER Act, after the November election. These proposed regulations aim to make data centers responsible for their energy and water costs and ensure environmental protections.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker announced he would not pursue a statewide moratorium on new data centers, explaining that he cannot unilaterally impose such a ban and prefers the General Assembly to pass robust regulations post-election. His comments follow Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's proposal for a city-level data center moratorium and a national trend of governors adopting stricter stances on these facilities.
Pritzker emphasized the need for significant regulation to protect Illinois residents from data centers' high water and energy demands, as well as noise pollution. He is advocating for the passage of the "Protecting Our Water, Energy, and Ratepayers Act" (POWER Act) in the upcoming legislative session, a bill he was disappointed did not advance in the spring. This legislation aims to hold data centers accountable for their energy and environmental impacts, requiring them to manage their own power and water needs. Pritzker also noted his earlier decision to pause tax incentives for data centers, which he believes has already prompted some development slowdowns. He stressed that while he cannot order a blanket moratorium, local communities retain the power to approve or block data center projects.