Illinois Data Center News

Jan 5, 2026

AI data centers: Economic boon or environmental disaster?

GrowSmart Maine released its first community guide on AI data centers and is urging Maine communities to demand transparency and carefully evaluate proposals for local AI data center projects.

Main action: GrowSmart Maine published a community guide on AI data centers that compiles publicly available information and provides guiding questions for towns; the guide is intended to help communities evaluate proposals such as the proposed A.I. data center at the Bates Mill complex in Lewiston (residents protested outside Lewiston City Hall ahead of the Dec. 16, 2025 city council meeting).
Background & context: The piece notes no federal or state regulatory framework requires disclosure of data-center energy and water consumption, references a recent White House executive order that would preempt state-level regulatory efforts, and highlights site types (former mills with behind-the-meter power and freshwater access) and rapid public-engagement concerns (a project announced on a Thursday and set for a council vote the following Tuesday).

Jan 5, 2026

Inside MAGA’s worldwide campaign to undermine climate science

DeSmog reports that MAGA-aligned actors and allies of the Trump administration enacted a coordinated anti-climate and pro-fossil-fuel agenda in 2025 that reached into US regulatory policy, European politics, Big Tech, and data-centre expansion.

Main action: The report documents concrete moves including the U.S. DOE convening climate-skeptic panels and producing a report that experts called “junk science”, the EPA launching an effort to rescind its CO2 “endangerment finding”, and legislative changes such as the “Big Beautiful Bill” removing tax credits for wind and solar (efforts credited in part to Alex Epstein and Americans for Prosperity). Key named actors include Chris Wright (U.S. Energy Secretary), the Heritage Foundation / Project 2025, and tech leaders interacting with the administration.
Background and specifics: The article cites corporate and financial actions and ties: a claimed $500 million transition loan offered to Alberta separatists (as claimed by Dennis Modry), and Blackstone’s $13.4 billion (£10 billion) AI data-centre project in the UK (reported to include a fleet of backup diesel generators). It also documents Big Tech and AI industry engagement (Google, OpenAI, Nvidia) with administration figures and the linkage between data-centre growth and new fossil-fuel plants in U.S. states (e.g., over 100 gas plants in Texas linked to AI demand).

Jan 4, 2026

Big Tech's Expanding Plans for Data Centers are Running into Stiff Community Opposition

Associated Press reports tech companies and developers increasingly losing local fights over data center projects.

Main announcement: Data Center Watch (a project of 10a Labs) counted 20 proposals valued at $98 billion in 11 states that were blocked or delayed between April and June, representing two-thirds of the projects it was tracking; the article notes major firms (Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Facebook) are collectively spending “hundreds of billions of dollars” on data centers globally.
Background and details: Community opposition is driven by concerns about energy use, water consumption, zoning, and loss of open space/farmland; local examples include East Vincent Township (Larry Shank), Matthews, NC (Mayor John Higdon: “999 to one against”), and Hermantown/Duluth, MN (Mortenson developing for an unnamed Fortune 50 company — Mortenson says it is considering changes). Developers and industry sources (Maxx Kossof, Dan Diorio) report zoning defeats, the prospect of selling sites after securing power, and calls for earlier community engagement.

Jan 3, 2026

Big Tech’s fast-expanding plans for data centers are running into stiff community opposition

Communities across the United States are increasingly blocking or delaying proposed data centers intended to serve AI and cloud computing workloads.

Major local defeats and delays: Data Center Watch (a project of 10a Labs) counted 20 proposals valued at $98 billion across 11 states that were blocked or delayed between April and June; opponents have also forced rezoning losses in states such as Indiana and pulled projects from city agendas (e.g., Matthews, NC). The article cites Microsoft’s securities filing acknowledging “community opposition, local moratoriums, and hyper-local dissent” as operational risks.
Project and developer details / background: Developers and trade groups such as The Missner Group, JLL, Mortenson, and the Data Center Coalition are adjusting strategy—considering selling power-secured sites or increasing early community engagement; one Mortenson project in Minnesota is on hold after internal emails revealed officials knew of the plan a year before public disclosure, and a Matthews, NC proposal reportedly would have funded half the city’s budget.

Jan 2, 2026

State Broadband Bills of 2025: A Legislative Review

State legislatures across the United States enacted and considered broadband-related legislation in 2025; fewer than 140 of more than 600 proposed bills became law.

Main actions: States enacted laws prioritizing infrastructure and permitting reforms, pole and rights-of-way access, criminal penalties for theft/vandalism, state broadband funding, and data center incentives. Notable enacted measures include Hawaii H 934 (established a state Broadband Office and programs, enacted in June and backed by $400 million in combined funding), West Virginia SB 907 (expanded the Economic Development Project Fund to allow up to $25 million annually for broadband incentives and up to $125 million annually for broadband loan insurance) and West Virginia HB 2014 (signed in April; created microgrid districts with zoning/permitting exemptions and special property tax treatment for qualifying projects).
Additional details and timelines: States also raised criminal penalties (e.g., Oklahoma classified willful damage to a critical infrastructure facility as a Class D3 felony with fines up to $100,000 and prison up to 10 years; Louisiana authorized fines up to $50,000 and prison up to 20 years; California AB 476 increased penalties for knowingly buying illegally obtained scrap metal to $5,000). Other enacted programs include California SB 338 (a $2 million telehealth pilot), New Mexico SB 126 (Rural USF increased from $30 million to $40 million), and Oregon’s device support up to $100 in Lifeline-related assistance. At least 37 states passed data center incentives in 2025 and over 1,000 AI-focused bills were introduced nationwide, with ~38 states adopting or enacting roughly 100 AI measures in 2025.

Jan 1, 2026

From data centers to invasive carp: Michigan Advance’s top 2025 environmental stories

The Michigan Advance reviews its biggest environmental stories of 2025, highlighting actions on data center growth, legal battles over Enbridge’s Line 5, Flint water recovery, a nuclear plant restart, the federal “energy emergency” order, and a federally backed invasive carp project.

Main announcement/action: The article summarizes major 2025 developments including a new state law offering tax breaks for data center construction that took effect in 2025 (driving tech companies to Michigan) and prompted large resident protests at the Capitol; a bipartisan House bill to repeal data center tax breaks and a Senate proposal to bar water-withdrawal permits for entities averaging above 2,000,000 gallons per day, require the Michigan Public Service Commission to publish data center energy and water use, and prevent residents from shouldering water system upgrade costs.
Background and other details: Ongoing legal disputes over Enbridge’s Line 5 (state and federal court appeals; Army Corps EIS issued in May; Michigan Supreme Court agreed to hear permit challenges); the EPA lifted Flint’s drinking water emergency after lead-line replacement work (residents can call 810-410-1133 or email GetTheLeadOut@cityofflint.com); the Trump Administration’s Jan. 20 energy emergency order is being legally challenged by Michigan AG Dana Nessel and other states; Consumers Energy reported the J.H. Campbell coal plant extensions cost $80,000,000 between May 23 and Sept. 30 and the latest extension runs through Feb. 17, 2026; a $1.15 billion invasive carp prevention project (sponsored by Michigan, Illinois and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) was affirmed with White House support and had secured its first construction contract in Dec. 2024.

Dec 30, 2025

Some of the Wisconsinites working for environmental change in 2025 and beyond

WUWM revisits several Wisconsinites working for environmental change in 2025.

Main focus: Profiles individuals and local efforts addressing climate, public health and land use — including Jariel Ramos (youth climate organizing and political ambition), Bazile Minogiizhigaabo Panek (Integrating Indigenous knowledge into natural resources management), David DeVooght (relocating buildings displaced by a Port Washington data center development), Lee Donahue (leading a Town of Campbell effort to build a municipal well), and Paul Florsheim (challenging shoreline access restrictions in Shorewood). Key factual items: $50 million municipal well project in the Town of Campbell to tap a deep uncontaminated aquifer; the Wisconsin DNR provided bottled water to more than 1,700 households for PFAS contamination; a cited fine of $313 in Shorewood; movers have relocated two barns from the Port Washington site and moved a pole barn about six miles.
Background and project details: The Town of Campbell response followed state testing showing 97.3% of nearly 600 wells had PFAS; the municipal well project is described as a concrete remediation investment (cost $50 million) to secure PFAS-free water. The Shorewood case is pending a municipal judge decision expected early 2026. Vantage is named as the data center developer linked to the Port Washington site where structures are being relocated.

Dec 25, 2025

Trump, AI's insatiable thirst and Mayor Johnson’s stalled ordinance top environmental stories in 2025

The Trump administration rolled back environmental protections, terminated the EPA employees’ union in Chicago, and canceled major clean-energy and methane-reduction funding.

Main actions and timeline:Trump administration actions in 2025 included ending the Chicago EPA employees’ union, launching a deregulatory campaign under EPA head Lee Zeldin that rolled back rules on water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and threatening or removing EPA inspectors, scientists and lawyers; the local union president Nicole Cantello represents around 700 workers and says she now must conduct union business outside work.
Funding and related local policy details: Trump halted almost $150 million previously promised for a rooftop solar program that helped low-income residents and canceled almost $600 million in previously promised government grants to help reduce methane emissions and improve the electric grid; concurrently, Illinois lawmakers and Mayor Brandon Johnson are dealing with rising power and water demand from AI data centers, and an environmental protection ordinance introduced in April remains stalled with negotiations not expected to wrap up soon.

Dec 24, 2025

The AI Boom’s Dirty Secret: Reviving Polluting ‘Peaker’ Plants

NRG Energy has postponed the planned retirement of the Fisk peaker plant in Chicago because rising electricity demand from data centres — particularly AI workloads — has made the unit economically viable.

Main announcement/action: NRG Energy postponed Fisk’s retirement (Fisk = oil-fired peaker units in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood) due to increased power demand from data centers/AI; an analysis found ~60% of oil, gas, and coal plants scheduled for retirement in the PJM grid have postponed or canceled retirements, and of 23 plants expected to retire starting in 2025, 13 have been postponed since January (including 11 peaker plants). PJM prices rose over 800% this summer versus last year; the Eddystone plant was ordered to keep running by the Department of Energy.
Background and other details: Peaker units are older, designed for rapid dispatch and often lack modern pollution controls, emitting sulfur dioxide and other pollutants near residential areas (Pilsen); research and reporting link peaker siting to “redlined” communities, raising environmental justice concerns. Alternatives mentioned include transmission upgrades and battery storage, while PJM and NRG emphasize grid reliability, saying “every available megawatt is necessary for current needs” and that peakers are vital for grid reliability during emergencies.

Dec 23, 2025

Data centers revive polluting ‘peaker’ plants across U.S.

NRG Energy withdrew a planned retirement notice for the Fisk oil-fired peaker units as surging electricity demand from AI data centers in PJM territory made peaker plants economically viable.

Main action: NRG Energy withdrew the retirement notice for Fisk’s eight oil-fired peaking units (December 2025) after AI data center demand drove prices in PJM higher; PJM said the market shows electricity demand outstripping supply and that existing generation is needed while new generation comes online. Key facts: Fisk = eight peaking units on former coal station site; EPA estimated sulfur dioxide 2 to 25 tons/year from the site; PJM prices to suppliers soared by more than 800% this summer.
Background & other details: Reuters analysis found about 60% of oil, gas and coal plants slated for retirement in PJM postponed or cancelled retirements this year; 23 plants were scheduled to retire starting in 2025 in PJM territory, and since January 13 retirements were delayed or cancelled (of those, 11 were peakers). The U.S. Government Accountability Office notes peakers supply about 3% of the country’s power but have capacity to produce 19%, and federal actors (DOE/Administration) have signaled interest in tapping spare capacity.

Illinois Data Center Intel

Recent Illinois data center news