Data Center Accountability
Leni was proud to co-sponsor and pass O2026-0027165 to ensure that data centers are required to report their water and energy usage to the Department of Environment, the first critical step toward better regulating their impacts on our environment and energy use.
To further protect the air, water, and health of Chicago residents, Ald. Manaa-Hoppenworth introduced the Data Center Moratorium Ordinance, a temporary pause on the development of new data centers while the City develops a comprehensive regulatory framework for data centers.
The Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy recently hosted a subject matter hearing on the Department of Environment's Sustainable Data Centers report. City Council and the relevant city agencies are reviewing the recommendations in the report in order to proactively plan for this rapidly growing industry.
Chicago is currently home to approximately 39 data centers, most of which were built under regulatory frameworks that did not adequately address the scale, energy intensity, and resource demands of today’s facilities. To protect our air, water, and health of Chicago residents, Ald. Manaa-Hoppenworth has joined her colleagues in calling for a moratorium on new data centers until a comprehensive effort to expand data center regulations can be completed.
