1. United States
2. Ill.
3. Letter

I'm asking you to support the POWER Act sponsored by State Sen. Ram Villivalam and State Rep. Robyn Gabel. This legislation protects Illinois residents from shouldering the massive costs of hyperscale data centers while ensuring these facilities don't worsen our energy crisis or harm our environment. Without this bill, data centers could increase electricity system costs by $24 billion to $37 billion by 2050, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists. A December report by three state agencies already warned that Illinois could face power shortages and price increases as new data centers come online. The POWER Act requires these facilities to pay for their own energy costs and infrastructure instead of shifting those expenses to residents. It also mandates renewable energy use, preventing data centers from keeping coal and gas plants running and threatening our climate goals. The bill addresses critical gaps in water usage reporting and environmental oversight. Right now, data centers aren't required to disclose how many millions of gallons they consume daily, making it impossible for communities to plan for demand. The POWER Act requires water permits, environmental assessments, and community benefits agreements. The Public Benefits and Affordability Fund, paid through data center fees, will support local communities with energy bill assistance and infrastructure improvements. Illinois can attract data centers without sacrificing our residents' wallets or health. Vote yes on the POWER Act.