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Pritzker said in Chicago on Thursday there has been a lot of
negotiation and discussion over the summer and early fall after
regulatory bills failed to advance in the General Assembly last
spring.
In June, Pritzker ordered the Illinois Department of Commerce
and Economic Opportunity to pause state tax incentives for data
centers, effective July 1.
House Bill 5513 and Senate Bill 4016 include provisions to
prohibit cost shifting, ensure data centers power their own
operations, and provide clean energy incentives. The measures
would also prevent data centers from signing nondisclosure
agreements with local governments.
The governor reiterated his support for the bills when he spoke
in Chicago on Thursday.
“We shouldn’t build new data centers in Illinois if we don't
have those data center companies bringing their own clean
energy, helping our communities to keep their bills down and
having closed loop water systems,” Pritzker said.
Pritzker said there is disagreement over some parts of the POWER
Act.
“As often happens with these complex pieces of legislation,
there will be disagreement even up to the end, but I think there
will be a common understanding that we need to get it done,” the
governor said.
One of HB 5513’s co-sponsors, state Rep. Ann Williams,
D-Chicago, told The Center Square that the POWER Act would be
the foundation for future talks.
“I anticipate continued conversations between the House working
group, the Senate, members that are interested in the topic, and
of course the governor's office,” Williams said.
Williams said people must come before data centers.
“And that means utility bill costs, that means quality of life
issues like noise, usage of water and other precious natural
resources,” Williams said.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey said data
centers developers should pay for power grid upgrades, bring
their own power and pay more if they strain the grid.
Bailey also called for savings to be returned to families
through lower electric bills.
Fall veto session is scheduled Nov. 17-19 and Dec. 1-3.
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