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Chicago Mayor Johnson proposes 12-month data center moratorium

Mayor Brandon Johnson introduced ordinance to pause new data center construction while city develops long-term regulations.

newest coverage 4h agosummary written 4h ago9 pieces1 likes & upvotes NewswiresMastodon

What to know

  • Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson introduced a 12-month moratorium ordinance Wednesday to pause new data center construction while the city develops comprehensive regulations addressing electricity, water use, and pollution concerns.
  • The moratorium is backed by Aldermen Hadden, Robinson, and Manaa-Hoppenworth; a competing ordinance from Alderman Conway would add regulations and district-specific bans rather than a citywide pause.
  • The data center industry opposes the moratorium, arguing it will eliminate union jobs and sacrifice clean energy investments by pushing development to neighboring areas.
  • Chicago is home to approximately 39-40 existing data centers, most near Downtown, and the task force created in August has until mid-March 2027 to propose long-term regulatory framework.

“If we do this right, this moratorium doesn't even have to last the year, right? Let's get together, let's get industry to the table, let's get organizations to the table and let's get our regulatory framework together.”

Maria Hadden · Chicago Tribune ↗

Brandon JohnsonBrandon Johnson Mayor of ChicagoMaria Hadden Alderman, 49th Ward; City Council Environmental Committee chairBill Conway Alderman, 34th WardBrad Tietz Data Center Coalition director of Midwest state government affairs

Chicago Mayor Johnson proposes 12-month data center moratorium
Chicago Tribune

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

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  1. 2

    Data Center Coalition opposes moratorium as economically harmful

    Brad Tietz, director of Midwest state government affairs for the Data Center Coalition, stated the moratorium would drive away union jobs and sacrifices clean energy investments, calling it a signal that Chicago is 'closed for business.'

    “A moratorium would actually drive away the many union jobs that are responsible for building and maintaining data centers, while sacrificing the significant clean energy investments that data centers drive.”
    — Brad Tietz
    1. 5 outlets Chicago Mayor Johnson Proposes 12-Month Data Center Moratorium

      first by NewsMax.com, 11h ago · also Chicago Tribune, Axios, The Hill, Block Club Chicago

      5 more headlines
  2. 1

    Alderman Hadden sponsors legislation requiring data center reporting

    Alderman Maria Hadden also sponsored legislation that passed a final City Council vote Wednesday requiring data centers to report annual water and energy use to the city. The city currently does not collect such information from the 39 existing data centers in Chicago.

    “We welcome innovation, investment and the jobs and opportunities that come with it, but growth must be done responsibly and in a way that protects the health, safety and quality of life of Chicago residents.”
    — Mayor Brandon Johnson · source
  3. background

    Alderman Conway introduces competing data center regulations ordinance — Alderman Bill Conway (34th) introduced his own data center ordinance to City Council on the same day, which would add additional regulations and ban data centers in some districts rather than implementing a citywide moratorium.

  4. background

    Johnson introduces 12-month data center moratorium ordinance — Mayor Johnson, along with Aldermen Maria Hadden, Lamont Robinson, and Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth, introduced a moratorium ordinance to the City Council Wednesday that would pause construction of new data centers and block material expansion of existing ones for one year.

  5. background

    Johnson signs executive order on data center scrutiny — Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order directing city departments to intensify scrutiny of new data centers and established a city task force to craft new regulations.