Chicago mayor orders new safeguards for data centers, seeks temporary moratorium
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order establishing new safeguards for data centers and creating a task force for long-term strategy. The administration will also pursue legislation for a temporary moratorium on new data center developments and major expansions. These actions aim to address concerns about air quality, water supplies, energy costs, and infrastructure strain from data centers.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has signed an executive order to implement new safeguards for data centers and established a task force dedicated to creating a long-term strategy for the industry within the city. This order mandates city departments to enhance their oversight of data center development, specifically addressing potential impacts on air quality, water resources, energy costs, existing infrastructure, and local neighborhoods.
Simultaneously, the Johnson administration plans to collaborate with the City Council to introduce legislation for a temporary moratorium on the construction of new data centers and significant expansions of current facilities. The mayor emphasized the city's commitment to responsible development, stating that Chicago would not permit unchecked growth that could deplete water supplies, escalate energy costs, or harm community health.
The city's executive order also establishes an Interdepartmental Data Center Environment and Community Protection Task Force, co-chaired by the mayor's chief sustainability officer and chief of policy. This task force, comprising representatives from various city departments, will be responsible for updating regulations and setting new standards for future data center projects. This move is supported by the Illinois Environmental Council and aligns with the Global Urban Data Centers Pact, which Chicago joined in June.