Advocates, Accusing Governor of “Lack of Engagement”, Urge Passage of Data Center Regulations by End of May

Environmental advocates in Illinois are urging state lawmakers to pass the POWER Act, a comprehensive bill designed to increase transparency regarding data centers' water and energy consumption, before the legislative session concludes at the end of May. Jen Walling, Executive Director of the Illinois Environmental Council, stated that the issue demands a statewide solution due to the rapid increase in data center proposals across Illinois, including recent approvals in Sangamon County, Joliet, and Yorkville. Advocates, including the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, have expressed confusion and concern over Governor JB Pritzker's perceived lack of engagement on the issue, despite his earlier call for PJM Interconnection to require data centers to provide their own energy and a proposed two-year pause on state tax credits for new facilities. Rep. Jed Davis, R-Yorkville, has introduced House Bill 5755, which would mandate public notice and hearings for data center projects and allow for local referendum votes, inspired by constituents who felt silenced during project approvals. The POWER Act itself seeks to prohibit non-disclosure agreements, require community benefits agreements, public water-use reports, environmental impact assessments, and mandate renewable energy generation for new data centers. While the data center industry, represented by Brad Tietz of the Data Center Coalition, has indicated openness to some regulation, they prefer voluntary reports for water use and renewable energy. Climate Jobs Illinois, though generally supportive, has concerns about union labor standards and opposes a tax credit pause. The Mahomet Aquifer's water usage is a major concern for lawmakers like Rep. Carol Ammons, chair of the House Energy and Environment Committee. Discussions are ongoing, with many lawmakers still learning details about the bill, but advocates like Tyshianna Bankhead of Faith Coalition for the Common Good stress the urgency of setting "real guardrails" before more projects move forward.