Companies that build data centers are looking at Northern Illinois and, in turn, raising local concerns about air and water pollution.

Data centers are great but they are also very resource-heavy in consumption. — Amy 'Murri' Briel, state representative

At a Tuesday forum hosted by state Rep. Amy “Murri” Briel, Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, a Cook County Democrat, said lawmakers will tackle this very issue during the upcoming fall veto session.

“Data centers are great,” Briel (D- Ottawa ) said at a town hall at the International Union Operators Engineers Hall in La Salle , “but they are also very resource-heavy in consumption.”

Welch said the Illinois General Assembly is “very likely” to address the regulation of data centers as part of an energy bill. Lawmakers,

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