(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says there is disagreement about data center legislation, but he expects a bill to be ready for fall veto session next month.
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.
