Dozens in Galena met to talk about the impact and future of data centers in Illinois
Residents in Galena, Illinois, and other communities are attending town hall meetings hosted by the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition to discuss concerns about data centers, including rising energy bills and depletion of natural resources. These meetings are also raising awareness for the POWER Act, a bill aimed at regulating hyperscale data centers that failed in the spring legislative session but may be reconsidered in the fall.
Dozens of residents in Galena, Illinois, recently gathered for a town hall meeting hosted by the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition to discuss the impacts of data centers on their communities. This meeting is part of a series being held across Illinois, including current data center hotspots like Elk Grove, Aurora, and DeKalb, to gauge public sentiment and provide resources.
Attendees, some of whom have never before organized around such issues, expressed strong interest and shared concerns about data centers' potential to increase energy bills and deplete natural resources. Scott Allen, an energy policy specialist with the Citizens Utility Board, noted the unprecedented level of community engagement. The Coalition aims to support residents who feel overwhelmed and distrustful of information from data center developers.
The town halls also serve to raise awareness for the POWER Act, a proposed bill designed to regulate hyperscale data centers. Although the bill did not pass during the spring legislative session, there is potential for it to be reintroduced for discussion in the fall. Additional meetings are planned for Decatur, the Quad Cities, and Mount Prospect.