data centers

House lawmakers passed more than 50 bills Wednesday, including a measure going to the governor

A week after a controversial vote to approve rules for a CRG Clayco data center, anti-data center candidates ousted half of the Festus City Council.

The project has drawn strong support from economic development officials, who foresee more property tax revenue, and organized labor, which would benefit from construction jobs. But it’s also brought out residents worried about the impact on utility costs and the environment.

The centers are considered the backbone of the internet, providing processing power for technology like AI and cloud computing. But they are also controversial.

Springfield is seeing job growth. Now a proposed data center could bring 500 construction jobs, $6.5M in taxes, and big debate over power and water. Here’s what it means.

The issue was tabled at the last meeting.

The board members listened to several speakers who urged a delay to further explore the proposal and to wait for potential new rules that could be enacted at the state level.

Commission calls the order an ‘important first step’ but initiates proceedings to dig deeper

Lawmakers, stakeholders, the governor and feds all have indicated they’re open to regulation

Lawmakers trying again to regulate industry as Pritzker moves to pause incentives