Data centers activate residents; what can be done to mitigate concerns?
Residents in Essex, Illinois, are actively opposing a proposed data center development by Constellation Energy, citing concerns over water and energy consumption and a lack of transparency. This local opposition mirrors broader sentiment across small communities in Illinois against such projects. State legislation, the POWER Act, is proposed to introduce regulations for data centers regarding energy and water usage and to eliminate non-disclosure agreements.
Residents in small Illinois communities are increasingly mobilizing against proposed data center developments, with a particular focus on Essex in Kankakee County where a Constellation Energy project is planned on 700 acres. Kylee Raney of the Essex Coalition is leading local efforts to resist the data center, engaging with residents from nearby towns like Coal City, Diamond, Morris, and Marseilles.
Concerns revolve around the significant water and energy demands of data centers, as well as a perceived lack of transparency from developers and local officials, often citing non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). Richard Klein, president of Community & Environmental Defense Services, is assisting the Essex Coalition in drafting a local industrial zoning ordinance for the Village of Essex, though it has yet to be adopted despite a petition with over 150 signatures.
To address these statewide issues, the proposed 'Protecting Our Water, Energy and Ratepayers' (POWER) Act aims to establish clear state guidance. This legislation would mandate data centers to provide their own renewable energy sources instead of relying on diesel backup generators, report on water and energy usage, and eliminate NDAs to improve public transparency and mitigate costs passed on to ratepayers.