Reporting by Nikoel Hytrek and UIS Public Affairs Reporting (PAR) for Capitol News Illinois:
Conversations about the POWER Act, a multifaceted data center regulation bill, are not over yet —but those involved say the bill won’t be ready by the General Assembly’s May 31 deadline.
That means pending data center projects will not be subject to guardrails proposed in the bill, like water use reporting, community benefits agreements and requirements that data centers pay for their own energy from renewable sources.
Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, the chair of the House Energy and Environment Committee and a sponsor of the bill, said at a Tuesday hearing that at least one more subject matter hearing is needed so lawmakers can hear from additional stakeholders.
“We’re just gonna finish out this session,” she said after a House subject matter hearing. “We’ll work with staff and our stakeholders and put something else on the books over the summer.”
She said she doesn’t know when the bill might be considered in the future, but it could come up in the fall veto session later this year after negotiations continue through the summer.
On Wednesday, the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, a collection of environmental advocacy organizations, businesses and groups, called for quick action.
“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.”