Governor Pritzker Pauses Data Center Tax Incentives, Outlines Path Forward for Consumer and Climate Protections [NRDC Response] 

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Governor Pritzker paused data center tax incentives today and laid out a policy framework to help Illinois address the impact of data centers on the environment and communities, in the wake of inaction from the Illinois General Assembly. 

The following is a statement from Madeline Semanisin, Illinois Climate & Energy Policy Director at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council): 

“Governor Pritzker’s principles are a solid step toward managing the massive strain data centers put on Illinois. Ensuring Big Tech companies — and not Illinois families — pay for their share of infrastructure costs while pausing tax incentives to set strict rules for energy and water efficiency are exactly the kinds of policies we need to protect our resources. 

“Requiring facilities to bring new clean energy, ban secret NDAs, and consider cumulative air pollution while ensuring grid reliability will protect both our climate goals and local communities. The legislature missed its chance to pass these guardrails this year in the POWER Act, but this framework gives us a strong baseline. We look forward to joining the formal working group to refine, expand, and ultimately codify these vital principles into law next session." 

 NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).