Working for Illinois Caucus

84th District State Representative Stephanie Kifowit says lawmakers are gearing up for some big discussions when the fall veto session takes place in Springfield. One major talking point will be energy, including a focus on the energy usage of data centers.

Kifowit says Senate Bill 2181, which was introduced during the spring session, would require data centers across the state to disclose the amount of water and electricity that they use annually to the Illinois Power Agency. She says many of these data center companies are signing non-disclosure agreements with municipalities, which does not allow for transparency with the public regarding how much of their natural resources are being used at these facilities.

"So these data centers are signing non disclosure agreements with municipalities that prohibits the municipality discussing how much water and electricity that they use. And so there is a law proposed in the Senate that I hope we can pass that makes it public knowledge, which I think the public needs to know, how much of our natural resources are going into these data centers."

Other topics, including transit funding, are also expected to be discussed during the session. The fall veto session is scheduled to take place from October 14 through 30.