Evanston's Rep. Robyn Gabel Says Data Center Bill Failed This Session, But Fight Continues

The bill that could have reshaped Illinois data center policy died at the May 31 deadline. The Evanston lawmaker leading it says the work is not over.

Rep. Robyn Gabel, the Democrat from Evanston who serves as House Majority Leader, watched her flagship legislation expire without a vote as the Illinois General Assembly's spring session ended Sunday.

The POWER Act would have required data center developers to pay for their own renewable energy, report water usage, and sign community benefits agreements with the neighborhoods where they build.

"The last thing we should be doing is handing out tax breaks and incentives to these profitable corporations," Gabel said at a rally Saturday outside the State Capitol.

Hundreds of advocates from across Illinois gathered at the Lincoln Statue in Springfield to push for the bill. They did not get a vote before the deadline.

$983 million in tax credits on the table

The stakes are measurable. According to a 2024 state report, at least 27 data centers have received incentives totaling $983 million in estimated lifetime tax breaks and benefits since the program began in 2019.

Gov. JB Pritzker proposed suspending those credits in February. He called the pause necessary to protect affordability for families as the energy landscape shifts.

But the governor has not engaged directly with lawmakers on the POWER Act during this session, according to advocates who have criticized his limited involvement.

A group of lawmakers from both chambers sent a letter to leadership on Friday urging a pause on the tax credits in the FY 2027 budget.

"It is not only fiscally irresponsible, but also unconscionable to continue to provide millions of taxpayer dollars to Big Tech corporations harming our climate, straining our grid, and making electric bills unaffordable for working families," the lawmakers wrote.

What the POWER Act would have done

The bill passed through four hearings since its introduction in February. Lawmakers heard testimony from utilities, environmental groups, labor unions, and data center developers.

The legislation would have required:

• Data centers to pay for their own energy generation from renewable sources including solar, wind, and battery storage
• Companies to track and report water usage and submit management plans to the Illinois Water Survey
• Developers to sign community benefits agreements with local communities
• Greater transparency in the approval process for new facilities

Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, chairs the House Energy and Environment Committee and sponsored the bill. She said after a Tuesday hearing that at least one more subject matter hearing is needed.

"We're just gonna finish out this session," Ammons said. "We'll work with staff and our stakeholders and put something else on the books over the summer."

She said the bill could resurface in the fall veto session later this year.

Advocates say the delay costs communities

Hannah Flath, a spokesperson for the Illinois Environmental Council and part of the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, said communities are waiting too long for action.

"Communities around the state have spoken and are demanding action from lawmakers to address the impact the influx of data centers has on our utility bills, water resources, and communities," Flath said.

The coalition called on legislative leaders to convene a negotiating table by the end of June.

Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago, who leads the Senate version of the bill, joined Gabel at Saturday's rally. He described the legislation as the most comprehensive data center law in the nation.

"The impacts of data centers are too big to ignore. We're going to keep fighting for transparency. We're going to keep fighting for fairness. We're going to keep fighting to hold Big Tech accountable," Villivalam said.

Why Evanston residents should care

Evanston does not currently host any data centers. But the city has heard the pitch. Developers have presented plans for closed-loop cooling systems, massive energy demands, and substantial tax revenue promises.

The POWER Act was designed to ensure that any community hosting a data center would get protections before construction begins. Without those guardrails in state law, individual municipalities must negotiate from scratch.

The Rev. Darnell Tingle of United Congregations of Metro East warned that communities of color often bear the burdens of industrial growth without adequate safeguards.

"We need statewide standards, we need statewide guardrails, we need statewide accountability," Tingle said. "Yes, we need protection that covers all of Illinois, not just the communities with the most money, not just the towns with the most lawyers, not just the places with the most political access, but everybody."

Gabel said negotiations on the bill will continue through the summer. She pointed to signs of bipartisan support and said the House remains ready to move forward.

For Evanston residents, the question is no longer whether data centers will come to Illinois. The question is whether communities will have a voice when they do.