Most Illinoisans OK with data centers — as long they're strictly regulated

A mid-March poll of 800 likely Illinois voters, conducted by Global Strategy Group for the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, revealed that 68% support legislation to strictly regulate data centers, minimizing their impact on utility bills, climate, and water. An additional 11% (more than half of opponents) opposed data centers entirely, indicating broad public desire for oversight or a halt to new construction. The proposed legislation, known as the Protecting Our Water, Energy, and Ratepayers (POWER) Act (Senate Bill 4016/House Bill 5513), garnered strong bipartisan support. Key provisions favored by the public include requiring data centers to pay fair water infrastructure costs (96% support), use efficient cooling systems (93% support), avoid shifting energy costs to consumers (91% support), and provide their own clean energy (91% support). Other highly supported measures include requiring an analysis of health and environmental impacts on vulnerable communities (92% support) and tightening rules on backup diesel generators (86% support). A near-unanimous 97% want data centers to report their water sourcing and usage. This public sentiment contrasts with generally unfavorable views of artificial intelligence, 'big tech companies,' and data centers themselves, according to the poll. Organized labor has urged the governor not to pursue a proposed two-year moratorium on state data center construction tax breaks, though the governor has stood by his proposal, hinting at a potential compromise. Both the House and Senate have held hearings on related bills, including the POWER Act, reflecting legislative efforts to address these public concerns.