Bloomington forum addresses data centers' impact on water, energy

A public forum held at the Bloomington Public Library on April 20, 2026, gathered residents to discuss the potential impacts of data center expansion on the local environment. Key concerns addressed during the interactive session included the effects on local water supplies, the strain on energy grids, and overall environmental health. Andrew Rehn, climate policy director for Prairie Rivers Network, specifically discussed data centers' water impact. Attendees also explored issues surrounding transparency in state and local decision-making processes related to data center development. The discussion highlighted broader climate change concerns, referencing the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's 2022 report and general temperature changes across various states, to provide context for the environmental considerations being discussed locally.