FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 12, 2026
Contact:
Hannah Flath, hannah@ilenviro.org, 860-634-0225
Lisa Bralts, lbralts@prairierivers.org, 217-417-5456
Advocates and legislators tout data center legislation to keep rates from skyrocketing, protect water, and prevent pollution
CHAMPAIGN, IL — At a press conference in Champaign today, the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition (ICJC), State Representative Carol Ammons and local advocates announced the introduction of the POWER Act (SB4016/HB5513), landmark legislation to protect Illinois families, communities, and our climate from the growing impacts of energy- and water-intensive data centers. Watch the recording of the press conference here.
As massive data centers rapidly expand across Illinois, already overburdened communities are feeling the effects of Big Tech’s unchecked electricity demand. Increased pollution, higher electricity costs, and strained water supplies hit these communities first and worst. A recent report from the Union of Concerned Scientists found that data centers will account for up to 72% of electricity demand growth in Illinois by 2030 and increase electricity system costs in Illinois by up to $37 billion by 2025.
The POWER Act recognizes this urgent crisis and establishes nation-leading guardrails to ensure Big Tech pays its fair share while protecting Illinois ratepayers from skyrocketing costs.
“Communities across Illinois are already struggling with rising utility bills and environmental harm, and unchecked data center growth only makes that worse,” said the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition. “The POWER Act is about protecting our families and communities. By requiring data centers to pay their fair share, we can ensure Illinoisans aren’t forced to subsidize Big Tech and protect our water and air for generations to come.”
“The POWER Act establishes commonsense guardrails on data centers that will minimize the impact on our utility bills, our climate, and our water. We’re working on this bill to ensure that our communities are not stuck holding the bag in this new technology landscape,” said State Representative Carol Ammons (D-Champaign). “We can and should bring new technologies and economic development to our state, but it can’t be done at the expense of our people.”
Protecting Energy Affordability and Illinois’ Climate Goals
The POWER Act directly addresses skyrocketing electricity costs driven by unprecedented data center demand. Under the bill, data centers will be required to bring new clean energy resources to the grid and will be prohibited from shifting infrastructure and capacity costs onto everyday consumers.
Key energy provisions include:
- Prohibitions on cost-shifting so utilities cannot pass their energy costs onto ratepayers.
- “Bring Your Own New Clean Capacity and Energy” (BYONCCE) requirements, ensuring data centers power their operations with new, locally deliverable renewable energy and battery storage.
- Incentives for clean energy leadership, allowing responsible data centers to connect to the grid faster when they meet ambitious clean energy benchmarks.
- Locally driven accountability for municipal electric utilities and cooperatives to ensure public power entities are prepared to meet data center demand without passing costs onto consumers.
Together, these policies protect families from higher bills while accelerating investment in clean, reliable energy across Illinois.
Safeguarding Illinois’ Water Resources
Large data centers can consume millions of gallons of water per day, threatening local supplies and long-term water planning. Yet Illinois currently lacks basic transparency and protections around this growing industrial demand.
The POWER Act establishes commonsense water safeguards, including:
- Transparent reporting of water use, so communities know how much water data centers take, use, and discharge.
- Water efficiency standards, requiring assessments of cooling alternatives and mandating highly efficient systems.
- Fair cost requirements, ensuring data centers pay their full share when connecting to public water systems.
- Drinking water protections, reviewed by the Illinois State Water Survey to protect drinking water supplies.
Strong Pollution Protections and Engagement Requirements for Local Communities
Data centers are often sited in communities already burdened by pollution, where diesel backup generators and increased power demand can worsen health outcomes. The POWER Act protects vulnerable communities by placing enforceable protections where they are needed most.
The bill will:
- Limit diesel generator pollution, allowing backup generators to run only during true emergencies.
- Require cumulative impact assessments before siting data centers near Environmental Justice or Equity Investment Eligible Communities.
- Guarantee transparent public engagement, including binding Community Benefits Agreements and prohibitions on non-disclosure agreements with local governments.
- Create a Public Benefits and Affordability Fund, funded by data centers, to support energy bill assistance, home efficiency upgrades, air quality monitoring, and water infrastructure in impacted communities.
What’s Next?
The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition will continue building momentum for the POWER Act with advocates and legislators across the state.
For more information, visit www.ilcleanjobs.org/power/.
