Last Update: 04/05/2026 at 2:50 PM EST
Illinois Tightens Data Center Rules
Coverage from Inside Climate News, Mystateline, and others
Articles
4
Latest Article
03/31
Active Days
41
Executive Summary
Illinois is moving to curb data centers power, water and pollution impacts with new rules aimed at protecting bills, climate targets and communities
- POWER Act would require hyperscale data centers to submit clean energy supply plans
- The bill would speed grid access for projects that secure their own clean power
- Illinois would require annual water-use and pollutant reporting starting January 1 2027
- New and existing data centers would have cooling and wastewater rules by 2028 and 2030
- Backup diesel generators would be limited to emergencies under the proposal
- Environmental justice reviews and community benefits agreements would be required near vulnerable areas
- ComEd won approval for larger security deposits from big-load projects to protect ratepayers
Quick Facts
- What: New rules and tariffs to curb data center energy water and pollution impacts
- Where: Illinois especially around Chicago and other large load utility territories
- Why: To protect bills climate goals water supplies and nearby communities
- Who: Illinois lawmakers regulators utilities advocates and data center operators
- When: Proposed in 2025 with phased requirements through 2030
Coverage Timeline: 41 Days
Featured Article
In Illinois in the 2020s, lawmakers advanced the POWER Act to regulate hyperscale data centers energy, water, and community impacts while safeguarding state climate and affordability goals.
Additional Articles
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Illinois Senate Bill 3830 would begin January 1, 2027, requiring data centers to report wastewater pollutant and water-use information and to adopt closed-loop cooling or treated wastewater by 2030.
Illinois Commerce Commission approved Commonwealth Edison security deposits for large-load data center projects while directing new proceedings on ratepayer reliability and affordability protections.
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Illinois electric rates increased about 15 percent in 2025, driven by data-center electricity demand and federal clean-energy grant and tax-credit reductions, according to reported utility filings.