* NRDC…

NRDC joined the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition today at a press conference in Chicago calling for the Illinois General Assembly to protect water, climate goals, consumers, and communities by passing the POWER (Protecting Our Water, Energy, and Ratepayers) Act.

The rapid expansion of data centers in the United States is dramatically transforming our electricity system. The POWER Act (SB4016/HB5513), introduced last week in the IL General Assembly, would establish nation-leading guardrails on data centers that will minimize impacts on Illinoisans’ utility bills, climate, and water while driving a competitive “race to the top” for responsible data center investment. […]

• Prohibit shifting data center costs onto consumers: New rules holding data centers accountable for their own energy needs will ensure that, during peak electricity demand, data centers can only use the amount of power proportional to the amount of new clean energy they bring to the grid. The policy will also protect consumers from subsidizing the costs of upgrading data center distribution and transmission infrastructure.

• “Bring Your Own New Clean Capacity and Energy” (BYONCCE) Supply Plans: Data centers will be required to show how they will power their operations with new clean energy. These plans must rely on renewable energy and battery storage projects that can deliver electricity where the data center is located and add new power to the grid. Energy efficiency, flexible operations, and programs that reduce electricity use during peak times can also help meet this requirement.

• Faster Grid Connection for Clean Energy Leaders: Data centers that demonstrate responsible clean energy leadership will be able to connect to the electric grid ahead of their competitors, incentivizing economic development that protects consumers and our climate.

• Public Benefits and Affordability Fund: Calibrated to their size, all data centers will pay annually into a restricted fund administered by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and Illinois EPA to enhance:

• Energy Affordability: Data center payments will be used to enhance DCEO utility-bill assistance (LIHEAP), shutoff avoidance assistance(UDAP), and whole-home retrofit incentive (IHWAP) programs for income-qualified electric customers.

• Environmental Justice: Payments will enhance Illinois EPA grantmaking for projects such as air quality monitoring and water infrastructure improvements.

• Protecting Consumers: Just like the electric grid, when a data center connects to our water utilities, they need to pay their fair share. Data centers need to show they are doing so with a transparent cost-of-service model.

* More on water from the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition…

• 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.

* More on pollution from the ICJC…

• 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.

* The Question: Do you oppose any of these proposals? Please explain your answer. If you support them all, then tell us what your favorite idea is and why.

…Adding… IMA…

The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA) today released the following statement in response to legislation that would hamper the development of data centers in Illinois, risking economic growth and investment:

“Data centers represent the future of a modern economy, as they make cloud computing, artificial intelligence, analytics and advanced manufacturing possible. These advances will result in billions of dollars of investment in Illinois, generating much-needed tax revenue for local and state governments, employing thousands of construction workers and creating an innovation ecosystem that supports the next generation of tech jobs in Illinois,” said Mark Denzler, president and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. “Illinois’ looming energy crisis follows the passage of several major energy bills that has resulted in the loss of significant baseload power generation, driving up costs and threatening reliability. Instead of penalizing innovation, we encourage policymakers to focus on an all-of-the-above energy approach that prioritizes maintaining and expanding baseload generation sources, investing in transmission and affordable battery storage, and deploying more renewable resources. Illinois can’t afford to keep making the same mistakes while blaming others for creating the problem.”