Illinois Data Center News

May 5, 2026 · RMI

Unpacking the PJM CIFP Decision: What PJM States Can Do to Ensure Affordable, Reliable Electricity During the Data Center Boom

The PJM Board announced a plan on January 16, 2026 to address challenges from surging large electricity customers and called for state engagement on implementation of the CIFP-LLA framework.

Main action: PJM released a CIFP-LLA plan proposing revised regional load forecasting, voluntary Bring-Your-Own-New-Generation (BYONG) options, a “connect and manage” curtailment approach, and a new “reliability backstop” capacity auction; the plan targets management of rapid data center-driven load growth (PJM region: 13 states + DC, projected ~30 GW new demand by 2030) and establishes an Expedited Interconnection Track (EIT) for 10 qualifying BYONG projects annually with a 250 MW UCAP threshold noted.
Context and next steps: This RMI analysis provides state-focused guidance (regulatory and legislative) for large load tariffs, non-firm service and BYO tariffs, permitting reforms, VPPs and ATTs, and participation in PJM’s upcoming Reliability Backstop Procurement (RBP) workshops tied to the 2027/2028 auction; it is an advisory/analysis piece rather than a primary regulatory order and references federal bodies such as FERC and the White House Energy Dominance Council for related jurisdictional developments.

May 5, 2026

New Data Center Developments: May 2026

Data Center Knowledge published a monthly roundup highlighting global data center project announcements, regulatory moves, and investment commitments driven by hyperscale AI demand.

Main announcement: The roundup catalogs multiple concrete project actions including Aligned Data Centers’ Project Caprock (540 MW, 313-acre campus in Hale County, Texas; initial delivery Q1 2027), EdgeCore’s completion of $1.5 billion in financing for two Northern Virginia hyperscale centers, and Yondr Group energizing a 27 MW Toronto facility expected in mid-2026. It also notes major investment commitments such as Digital Realty’s near S$7 billion Singapore plan (S$4.3 billion for new data centers) and AWS increasing planned investment in Mississippi to $25 billion.
Context and details: The piece outlines parallel regulatory updates in U.S. states (Maine vetoed a moratorium; Wisconsin revised We Energies tariff rules; North Carolina advanced legislation to require hyperscalers to cover infrastructure costs), workforce and partnership initiatives (Equinix Foundation with ODATA, Cisco, Vertiv launching training in Brazil, cohorts mid-2026), and other regional projects and financings (TikTok €1 billion Finland site; Ark Data Centres >€600 million Barcelona project; Equinix land purchases in South Africa totaling ZAR 890 million).

May 4, 2026

In the PR Battle for AI Data Centers, Tech Giants Got a Blue-Collar Ally

Building trades unions have aligned with tech giants to support and staff rapid expansion of data center construction for the AI economy.

Unions expanding training and workshare:Building trades unions are scaling training centers and apprenticeships (apprentice classes doubling in size in some areas), reporting record numbers of members and apprentices in 2025; data centers account for at least 40% of work hours for the Columbus-Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council and 50% for IBEW Local 26 in metropolitan Washington, D.C. North America’s Building Trades Unions reports record membership and apprenticeships, and union leaders (e.g., Sean McGarvey) attribute growth to data centers, power plants, and Biden-era subsidies for semiconductors and EV battery factories.
Partnerships, funding and project details: Tech companies are funding training and signing labor agreements: Google provided a $10 million grant to a union-backed electricians training program (said to expand the electrician workforce pipeline by 70%); Amazon announced it will spend $20 billion on two data center projects in eastern Pennsylvania (announced with Gov. Josh Shapiro); unions negotiated labor agreements on projects including Oracle/OpenAI’s Stargate campus (Michigan) and the “Project Blue” campus in Arizona. These are factual reporting items, not new single-source policy announcements.

Apr 30, 2026

Expert speaks on data center demands and environmental digital footprint

Dr. Ana Pinheiro Privette presented findings on data center water use and digital environmental footprints at the Bureau of Geology on April 24, 2026.

Main announcement: Privette highlighted that expanding data infrastructure drives large water and environmental footprints, citing that a single smartphone can require up to 12,000 gallons of water and that evaporative cooling can consume 70 to 90 percent of the water used; she said data centers are among the top 10 most water-consuming industries and that the U.S. hosts roughly half of the world’s data centers, with Virginia carrying an estimated 70% of global internet traffic.
Background and additional details: Privette noted there is no federal requirement to disclose data-center water use, mentioned that Virginia recently passed legislation requiring utilities to report water supplied to data centers, said most associated water is indirect (electricity generation and manufacturing), observed facilities often operate 10 to 15 years, and recommended communities negotiate renewable energy, reduced water use, or infrastructure investments; she also noted AI applications (e.g., leak detection) can help water management.

Apr 29, 2026

Data Centers Face a New Constraint: Public Consent

Data Center Frontier reports that public consent has become a material constraint on US data center development.

Main development: State and local actions are escalating: Maine lawmakers advanced LD 307 (would have paused approvals for facilities ≥20 megawatts through Nov 1, 2027) and proposed a Maine Data Center Coordination Council to study AI-scale impacts; Governor Janet Mills vetoed the bill, but executive action and local freezes (e.g., Bangor’s proposed 180-day pause) are expected to proceed.
Additional facts & context: Local and county actions include Hood County/Granbury litigation and regulation efforts (county sought legal guidance from Ken Paxton), Huron County expanding a moratorium to three years, Stokes County rezoning litigation over roughly 1,845 acres, Aurora adopting stringent permitting and reporting rules, and a contested $6 billion data center approval in Festus tied to electoral backlash (four council members removed).

Apr 23, 2026

The Edge Network Effect: Building AI Infrastructure That Spans Markets, Not Just Facilities

365 Data Centers presents its “edge network effect” approach and promotes its nationwide AI-ready platform that integrates colocation, connectivity, and dedicated sovereign AI with 24/7 support.

Main announcement: 365 Data Centers highlights its 16 facilities and 70+ points of presence (PoPs) across U.S. markets, promotes an AI-enabled platform that integrates colocation, cloud, and networking, and references partnerships such as DE-CIX Chicago to extend peering and interconnection. It specifies service-level commitments including 99.999% network uptime SLAs and claims redundant power (100% uptime SLA) and support from 86+ carrier-neutral providers.
Background and details: The piece cites industry forecasts—Deloitte projecting edge AI at $270 billion by 2032 and McKinsey on data center capacity growth to 200+ GW by 2030—and references a HostingAdvice.com interview and DE-CIX Chicago deployment as implementation examples; no specific contract values or implementation timelines for customer engagements are announced.

Apr 23, 2026

Region struggling with pollution, annual air quality report shows

The American Lung Association released its 27th annual “State of the Air” report.

Main findings: The report rates counties on ozone and particle pollution for 2022–2024, finding most west-central Illinois counties failed for high-ozone days; Sangamon County recorded 21 orange-status high-ozone days (2022–2024) and the Springfield-Jacksonville-Lincoln area ranked 38th worst nationally for ozone. It also reports Illinois has 229 existing or approved data centers, and cites U.S. data centers consuming ~4.4% of national electricity today with projections to double or triple by 2028 and potentially account for up to 12% of U.S. electricity within the next decade.
Context and calls to action: The report criticizes recent EPA actions as weakening protections and states “Hard-fought progress is now at grave risk.” It calls on the EPA to reaffirm public-health protections and urges Illinois policymakers to pass the Hazel M. Johnson Cumulative Impacts Ordinance, support state legislation to curb warehouse pollution, and expand zero-emission vehicle infrastructure. The report notes 33.5 million children live in areas that received a failing grade for at least one measure of air pollution.

Apr 22, 2026

Patented: Verizon’s Signal Spoof Detection at Base Stations and More North Texas Inventive Activity

Dallas-Fort Worth reported 171 patents granted for the week of March 24 and Verizon was granted a patent for detecting GPS/satellite signal spoofing at cellular base stations.

Main announcement: Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington (19100) 171 patents granted for the week of March 24, ranked No. 8 out of 250 U.S. metros; notable individual patent: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc. (U.S. Patent No. 12587857) for signal spoof detection at base stations using a comparison of a station’s known “true position” with a calculated “real time position” and generating an alert when the distance exceeds a threshold. Named inventors on the Verizon patent are Jerry Gamble, Jr. (Grapevine, TX) and Sumanth S. Mallya (Flower Mound, TX).
Background/details: The article is a patent roundup (Dallas Invents) listing utility and design patents connected to North Texas; it enumerates classification counts (G: Physics 53; H: Electricity 49; DESIGN: 31, etc.), top assignees (e.g., Texas Instruments Inc. 17; Traxxas L.P. 17; Samsung 8; Verizon 6) and highlights many granted patents across domains (telecom, AI/ML, medical devices, robotics, energy, networking). For each patent the report includes patent number, inventor(s), assignee, application file/date, and abstract (no speculative outcomes).

Apr 20, 2026

Rivian, Redwood Materials announce energy storage partnership

Rivian has announced a partnership with Redwood Materials to deploy a stationary energy storage system at its Normal, Illinois assembly plant.

Main announcement: Rivian will provide more than 100 second-life EV battery packs to Redwood Materials to be repurposed into an initial 10 MWh energy storage system at Rivian’s Normal, Illinois factory to reduce utility costs and grid demand at peak times.
Background and additional details:Redwood Energy (a Redwood Materials business unit, announced June 2025) is focused on low-cost stationary storage for AI data centers and commercial uses; Redwood Materials received a $2 billion conditional loan commitment from the U.S. Department of Energy (Feb 2023). Related industry moves include a non-binding MOU between GM and Redwood Materials (July 2025) and Ford’s plan for a subsidiary to produce 5 MWh+ advanced battery energy storage systems in Kentucky (announced December [year referenced]).

Apr 14, 2026

Negotiations over data center legislation have yet to ramp up as environmental groups cite favorable poll

The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition released polling showing strong public support for the POWER Act and urged lawmakers to pass SB4016/HB5513 to increase transparency and regulate data centers.

Main announcement: The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition released survey results showing 70% of Illinois residents support tighter regulation of data centers (rising to 75% after provisions are explained). The House sponsor, State Rep. and House Majority Leader Robyn Gabel (Evanston), says SB4016/HB5513 would require sunshine on community benefit agreements; negotiations have yet to move much beyond committee hearing testimony.
Background and provisions: The POWER Act would require disclosure of water use, assessment of cooling alternatives, mandated high-efficiency systems, and review of applications by the Illinois State Water Survey; it would create an industry-funded public benefits and affordability fund for energy bill assistance, home efficiency upgrades, and air quality monitoring. Related proposals include Republican SB4004 (Chapin Rose) barring use of the Mahomet Aquifer, and Gov. JB Pritzker called for a two-year pause on new data center tax credits in February. The article cites industry figures: ~115,000 jobs, $20 billion added to Illinois GDP (2023), $1.8 billion in state and local property taxes (2023), and $15 billion in state incentive-driven investment (2024).

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