2026 Election Questionnaire: Karen Battaglia, Illinois State Senate, District 32
Karen Battaglia, a candidate for Illinois State Senate District 32, outlined her policy positions on data centers. She advocates for developers to bear all associated costs for electricity, water, and infrastructure, rather than shifting them to residents. Battaglia also supports state-level minimum standards for data centers while preserving local government authority over zoning and other local impacts.
Karen Battaglia, a candidate for Illinois State Senate District 32, has detailed her stances on key policy issues, including the development and regulation of data centers, in a questionnaire. Battaglia, a Trauma Program Coordinator at Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital, emphasized that data center developers should be fully responsible for the costs associated with their projects, specifically electricity consumption, water use, and required infrastructure improvements.
She proposed that developers disclose projected electricity and water usage before project approval and demonstrate the availability of adequate resources. Battaglia called for large energy users to cover the costs their projects impose on the electric grid, preventing these expenses from burdening families and small businesses. She also supports robust water-use reporting, conservation, and reuse efforts, alongside strong environmental and noise protections for nearby residents.
Regarding regulatory authority, Battaglia advocated for a two-tiered approach: the state should establish minimum standards for transparency, environmental protection, water use, and grid reliability. Concurrently, she believes local governments should maintain significant authority over zoning, siting, setbacks, noise, and traffic, ensuring meaningful opportunities for community input before major projects are approved. She stressed that statewide standards should not overshadow local communities' ability to address legitimate concerns. Battaglia's platform also includes increasing state funding for public schools to reduce reliance on property taxes, and a willingness to explore nuclear power expansion alongside renewable energy while prioritizing affordable and reliable electricity.