{"id":38225,"date":"2026-05-15T10:26:12","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T15:26:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thexradio.com\/news\/?p=38225"},"modified":"2026-05-15T10:26:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T15:26:12","slug":"advocates-accusing-governor-of-lack-of-engagement-urge-passage-of-data-center-regulations-by-end-of-may","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thexradio.com\/news\/local-news\/38225-advocates-accusing-governor-of-lack-of-engagement-urge-passage-of-data-center-regulations-by-end-of-may\/","title":{"rendered":"Advocates, Accusing Governor of &#8220;Lack of Engagement&#8221;, Urge Passage of Data Center Regulations by End of May"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"pdfprnt-buttons pdfprnt-buttons-post pdfprnt-top-right\"><a href=\"javascript: window.print()\" class=\"pdfprnt-button pdfprnt-button-print\" target=\"_self\" ><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thexradio.com\/news\/wp-content\/plugins\/pdf-print\/images\/print.png\" alt=\"image_print\" title=\"Print Content\" \/><span class=\"pdfprnt-button-title pdfprnt-button-print-title\">Print<\/span><\/a><\/div><p>Jen Walling, the Executive Director of the Illinois Environmental Council, speaks about the POWER Act at a May 13, 2026 news conference (Capitol News Illinois photo by Nikoel Hytrek)<\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Members of both parties have shown a willingness to approve at least some regulations<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><b>Article Summary\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Advocates are calling for the General Assembly to pass the POWER Act to regulate data centers before the legislative session ends on May 31.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The urgency, they say, is that data center projects continue popping up across the state, including three that were approved since the bill was introduced in February. But they\u2019re critical of what they see as a \u201clack of engagement\u201d by the governor\u2019s office.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The bill has only had subject matter hearings so far and hasn\u2019t received any official votes, but Democrats and Republicans have indicated a willingness to regulate data centers. Stakeholders say they\u2019re open to negotiations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Illinoisans around the state have called for more transparency in the way data center projects are proposed and negotiated.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This summary was written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By NIKOEL HYTREK <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Capitol News Illinois<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span> <a href=\"mailto:nhytrek@captiolnewsillinois.com\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">nhytrek@captiolnewsillinois.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SPRINGFIELD \u2014 Environmental advocates continue to pressure lawmakers to require more transparency about data centers\u2019 water and energy use as the legislative session creeps toward the finish line.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ilga.gov\/Legislation\/BillStatus?DocNum=5513&amp;GAID=18&amp;DocTypeID=HB&amp;LegId=167488&amp;SessionID=114\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">POWER Act<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the primary vehicle for regulations that address concerns about the effects data centers have on communities, but it hasn\u2019t seen any action beyond subject matter hearings since it was introduced in February.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With less than three weeks left before lawmakers are slated to adjourn, however, it\u2019s unclear whether the wide-ranging bill will come together and whether Gov. JB Pritzker will throw his support behind any specific regulatory proposal.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWe are confused and concerned by the Governor\u2019s lack of engagement on the issue of data centers this spring legislative session,\u201d Kady McFadden, lead lobbyist on behalf of the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition that has been behind several recent energy reforms, said in a statement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pritzker mentioned data centers in his February State of the State address, calling for PJM Interconnection, the electric grid operator that covers all or part 13 states from Illinois to the East Coast, to require data center developers to pay for and provide their own energy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He also proposed a two-year pause on state tax credits for new data centers to compensate for rising demand and higher prices. Illinois has provided tax incentives for data centers since Pritzker signed bipartisan legislation in 2019. According to the state\u2019s 2024 report, at least 27 data centers had received incentives totaling $983 million in estimated lifetime tax breaks and benefits.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But the advocates behind the bill say he\u2019s been silent since, even as a vast array of stakeholders indicate they have at least some interest in regulation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe Governor\u2019s Office continues to monitor and take note of all legislation that requires additional state resources,\u201d a<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> spokesperson said in an emailed statement. \u201c<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As bills make their way to the second chamber, agencies and Governor\u2019s Office staff will continue to educate members and budgeteers about the fiscal impact of bills.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s not uncommon, however, for lawmakers to wait until the last minute to pass major legislation, including energy policy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIllinois has the opportunity to set real guardrails before even more projects move forward,\u201d said Tyshianna Bankhead, executive director of Faith Coalition for the Common Good based in Springfield, at a House committee meeting on Tuesday.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The urgency comes from the increased interest of data centers to develop in Illinois. A representative from Commonwealth Edison said the northern Illinois territory has almost 100 large-load projects in the queue. Since February, data center proposals have been approved in Sangamon County, Joliet and Yorkville.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThis is not something that we can solve one community at a time,\u201d Jen Walling, executive director of the Illinois Environmental Council, said at a Wednesday news conference. \u201cThis is a statewide issue, and it demands a statewide solution.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Bipartisan support for regulation?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Advocates say they don\u2019t know why the bill has stalled, because Democrats and Republicans have aired concerns about water use, energy prices and the lack of transparency around proposed developments. As with all legislation with the scope of the POWER Act, however, the devil is in the details.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Walling pointed toward a Republican representative\u2019s bill to regulate data centers and said she was encouraged by the conversation that happened in the Tuesday committee.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI think that that hearing just showed a large level of support for moving forward and doing something, and how interested people are and how much all lawmakers are hearing from their constituents,\u201d Walling said.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rep. Jed Davis, R-Yorkville, filed <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ilga.gov\/Legislation\/BillStatus?DocNum=5755&amp;GAID=18&amp;DocTypeID=HB&amp;LegId=168353&amp;SessionID=114\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">House Bill 5755<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on April 27, which would require municipalities to provide public notice and hearings for proposed data centers. It would also allow residents to gather signatures to trigger a referendum vote on proposed projects.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He said the bill was inspired by constituents who felt Yorkville didn\u2019t listen to them before approving several data center projects.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI&#8217;m really hearing the voice of my constituents back home and how they feel silenced,\u201d he said. &#8220;And, through this piece of legislation, I\u2019m trying to give them fresh breath, give them a voice again, to empower them to have change locally.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Davis told Capitol News Illinois he\u2019s \u201cright on the fence\u201d as to whether he\u2019d vote for the POWER Act, and he\u2019s heard similar from some of his Republican colleagues. He said constituents have emailed him since \u201cday one,\u201d asking him to support the POWER Act.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Republicans have called for regulations on data centers, but they don\u2019t want restrictions to interfere with data centers\u2019 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/news\/how-do-data-centers-benefit-the-places-where-theyre-built-local-mayors-give-mixed-reviews\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">economic benefits<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and many dislike the requirement that new data centers get their energy from renewable sources.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What would the POWER Act do<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite several recent committee hearings on data centers, lawmakers this week commented on how the bill feels like it\u2019s still in its early stages. Many members of the House Energy and Environment Committee said Tuesday they were learning details about the bill for the first time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cClearly, there&#8217;s a lot of conversation that needs to happen around the bill,\u201d said Rep. Carol Ammons, chair of the committee. \u201cI&#8217;ll just put on the record that my major concern and protection area will certainly be the Mahomet (Aquifer), which is sole source, and utilization of water is a huge, huge problem in the either existing data centers or those coming online.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The POWER Act would prohibit nondisclosure agreements between governmental units and data centers and would require data center developers to create community benefits agreements in the places they\u2019re located.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It would also require public water-use reports, environmental impact assessments, and would make data center developers build their own renewable energy generation to power the facilities.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The bill is meant to address concerns about the millions of gallons of water data centers can use and the power strain they\u2019ll put on an already struggling grid.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ComEd territory in northern Illinois, for example, has enough large-load energy projects in its queue to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/news\/energy-demand-in-comed-territory-could-double-by-2040-in-part-driven-by-data-centers\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">more than double<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the amount of energy demand in the territory by 2040.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even the data center industry has indicated its open to regulation \u2014 at least nominally.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brad Tietz, the Midwest policy director for the Data Center Coalition, acknowledged that data centers have impacts on communities but said data center companies can be useful too, especially as technology for water and energy use evolve.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWe&#8217;ve been asking throughout the session now for formal stakeholder negotiations to begin,\u201d he said. \u201cWhile we do have concerns with the POWER Act, a number of the issues are not insurmountable, and we&#8217;d love a chance to talk through this.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tietz said the data center industry would like to change proposals requiring data centers to provide their own renewable energy and water use reports to make them voluntary instead of mandatory \u2014 a proposition that\u2019s unacceptable to environmental advocates.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Similarly, Joe Duffy with Climate Jobs Illinois, said his organization supports the goals of the POWER Act and is open to negotiating with other stakeholders, but it has concerns about whether the renewable generation projects required in the bill will be held to union labor standards.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Climate Jobs Illinois also opposes a pause on the data center tax credit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWithout it, there&#8217;s no guarantee that these projects benefit Illinois workers or Illinois communities,\u201d Duffy said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">McFadden said the Clean Jobs Coalition has spoken with labor interests about the bill, but they have not been able to sit down with the Data Center Coalition.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Calls for transparency<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Across Illinois, proposed data centers have drawn hundreds of Illinoisans to city council meetings and town halls demanding more information about how data centers will impact their communities. Many have called out the frequent use of nondisclosure agreements between data center companies and municipalities and limited time for public input.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In some cases, like in Naperville and Pekin, the outcry has been able to halt projects, but several communities have moved ahead despite opposition from residents.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhen it comes to data centers, communities are struggling to get basic information, let alone meaningful involvement,\u201d Bankhead said at a House committee meeting on Tuesday.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Sangamon County Board approved a data center in April on a 17-10 vote <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.illinoistimes.com\/news\/sangamon-county-approves-data-center\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">after limited public comment<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Bankhead said the board did not openly discuss the project.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cInformation was difficult to access, and decisions seemed to move faster than the public process should, and many residents were left feeling like they were reacting to the process instead of being included,\u201d she continued.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Joliet residents voiced similar concerns about the Joliet Technology Center, a planned 795-acre data center project that was approved in March on an 8-1 vote.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cCity officials were quiet or contemptuous, information was inconsistent and delayed, and technical analyses were either incomplete or unavailable to the public,\u201d Noah Martinez, a member of Joliet Residents for Responsible Growth, said at a Monday news conference in Joliet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Capitol News Illinois<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jen Walling, the Executive Director of the Illinois Environmental Council, speaks about the POWER Act at a May 13, 2026 news conference (Capitol News Illinois photo by Nikoel Hytrek) Members [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":38226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38225","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Advocates, Accusing Governor of &quot;Lack of Engagement&quot;, Urge Passage of Data Center Regulations by End of May - Effingham&#039;s News and Sports Leader, 979XFM and KJ Country 102.3<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Effingham&#039;s News and Sports Leader\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thexradio.com\/news\/local-news\/38225-advocates-accusing-governor-of-lack-of-engagement-urge-passage-of-data-center-regulations-by-end-of-may\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Advocates, Accusing Governor of &quot;Lack of Engagement&quot;, Urge Passage of Data Center Regulations by End of May - 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