Data centers are coming to Illinois. Northern Illinois communities, including Elk Grove, Aurora and DeKalb, are becoming hotspots for some of the largest data centers in the state. While some praise the incoming developments, others are concerned they could raise energy bills and strain natural resources.
The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition is hosting dozens of town hall-style meetings about data centers across the state, including one in Galena on Wednesday, July 22. The coalition said it is holding the meetings to learn how residents feel about data centers and to share information about the potential impacts of these developments on local communities.
Scott Allen, an energy policy specialist with the Citizens Utility Board, said hundreds of people have attended some of the meetings. He presented at the Galena meeting and said he has never seen communities express as much interest in an energy or utility issue as they have with data centers.
"Overwhelmingly, everybody is on the same side with this issue," he said. “That's really encouraging, to go to a community and see 120 people show up. People who have never organized around issues before are getting really involved in this and feel really strongly about it."
Allen said smaller communities, in particular, are overwhelmed and often do not know where to start. The coalition wants to support residents who feel they cannot trust the information they are receiving from data center developers.
"Not saying that we're showing up with all the answers, but we're kind of showing up saying, 'Here's our perspective on this, and if you need help organizing, if you need help finding answers, if you need access to resources, our coalition is more than glad to help you find those,'" Allen said.
The meetings are also part of an effort to raise awareness about the POWER Act, a bill that would regulate hyperscale data centers. The measure did not pass during the spring legislative session but could return for discussion in the fall.
Another town hall will be held Wednesday, July 29, at the Decatur Public Library. The coalition is hosting two additional meetings in August: one in the Quad Cities and another in Mount Prospect. Organizers said they will continue bringing the town halls to communities across the state by request.
Copy Edited by Eryn Lent
