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Grayslake data center opponents call for wetlands protection: ‘Wetlands are incredibly important’
Opponents of the Grayslake T5 data center are focusing on almost 16 acres of wetlands on the site that developers have applied to fill in, seeing it as a potential stopping point for a project that has sparked increasing resistance.
Rockford CEJA Ecosystem Training Next Generation of Clean Energy Workers & Investing in Local Community
Rockford, Illinois – Today, The Workforce Connection, Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois (Goodwill), Think Big! Corporation, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), Illinois
Data Center Policy Debate in Illinois Spans Environmental, Economic Goals
Andrew Montequin for WTTW: Data centers are a hot topic in Illinois and around the country. Alongside more construction comes more public scrutiny — of
2025 Annual Report
Explore our IEC and IECEF Annual Report to learn more about the state of our organizations and the progress we made in 2025.
Fighting for a Clean Community through a Toxic Tour & Fireside Chat
For Metro-East residents, environmental justice is a daily fight against chronic flooding, sewage backups, and toxic air.
As Trump hacks away at environmental protections, Illinois strengthens them
A bill headed to Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk will end Illinois’ automatic adoption of weakened federal environmental standards.
SCORECARD & NEWSLETTERS
Legislative Scorecard
See how your state legislators voted on bills affecting the environment.
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RESEARCH & REPORTS
In a Years-Long Fight, the Illinois Environmental Justice Movement Gets a Win
A bill, newly passed by legislators, will expand the state’s capacity to enforce limits on health-harming emissions in overburdened communities.
Illinois regulates AI safety but not data centers
Illinois lawmakers passed one of the nation’s strictest AI safety policies last week, but the state still lags behind Florida and Tennessee when it comes to regulating the buildings that make AI use possible: data centers.
POWER Act data center regulation won’t move forward this spring
“The ICJC supports continued education (about the POWER Act), but communities around the state have spoken and are demanding action from lawmakers to address the impact the influx of data centers has on our utility bills, water resources, and communities,” said Hannah Flath, a spokesperson for the Illinois Environmental Council, on behalf of the Clean Jobs Coalition. “We’re calling on legislative leaders to convene a negotiating table by the end of June to negotiate and work toward passing the POWER Act.”
Capitol Dispatch 6.1.26: That’s a wrap on the 2026 Spring Legislative Session
Quick look at what did and didn’t pass this session.
Illinois’ Natural Resources and Climate Goals At Risk Amid Legislature’s Inaction on the POWER Act
Illinois – Today, the Illinois General Assembly adjourned without taking action on the POWER Act (SB4016/HB5513) – commonsense legislation that would enact nation-leading guardrails on
600 Illinoisans Rally at the State Capitol As Lawmakers Appear Poised to Leave Springfield Without Enacting Data Center Guardrails
Illinois – Over 600 Illinoisans rallied at the Illinois State Capitol today for the Illinois Environmental Council’s POWER Act Lobby Day and met with their