Illinois lawmakers begin days of deep dives on data centers

Illinois lawmakers have initiated a series of subject matter hearings to conduct a deep dive into the local impacts of data centers across the state. The House Executive Committee, chaired by Rep. Ann Williams, D-Chicago, heard from various stakeholders, including mayors, labor groups, and agriculture representatives, emphasizing the need to prioritize people and communities amidst economic development. Key concerns raised during the hearing included water use, energy consumption, noise pollution, and the structure of community benefit agreements. Mayors offered differing perspectives: DeKalb Mayor Cohen Barnes praised Meta's substantial investment and community contributions in his city, advocating against regulations that might deter future development. Conversely, Aurora Mayor John Laesch highlighted resident complaints about constant low-frequency hums from data centers and strain on the power grid. Aurora has already enacted ordinances requiring noise, water, and energy studies, and mandating renewable energy sources for future data centers, urging statewide action on these issues. Meanwhile, Sangamon County recently approved a zoning proposal for a CyrusOne data center project, despite residents' worries about noise and water, as noted by former County Board member Marc Ayers. Labor representatives, including Marc Poulos from the Indiana, Illinois, Iowa Foundation for Fair Contracting, expressed concerns that excessive regulations could drive data center investments to neighboring states. Joe Duffy of Climate Jobs Illinois called for a balance between economic incentives and environmental protections, while Bill Bodine of the Illinois Farm Bureau voiced farmers' concerns about land and water use, advocating for renewable energy on existing structures and clear decommissioning plans for facilities. These discussions are set against the backdrop of the proposed POWER Act, a major data center regulation bill under consideration in the General Assembly, aiming to address many of the issues brought forth in these ongoing hearings.