A recent poll of likely Illinois voters reveals strong and widespread support for establishing regulatory guardrails on data center development, underscoring growing public concern about the industry’s impact on energy, water resources, and consumer costs. As first reported by Capitol Fax, 68 percent of respondents indicated support for legislation aimed at minimizing the effects of data centers on utility bills, climate, and water usage while still allowing for continued development. When accounting for those who oppose the legislation because they do not want data centers built at all, roughly 80 percent of voters either favor regulation or oppose further expansion entirely.
The survey, conducted by Global Strategy Group on behalf of the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, found bipartisan support for the proposal, including 71 percent of Democrats and independents and 61 percent of Republicans. Notably, among Republican and Downstate voters who opposed the legislation, a majority cited opposition to any new data center construction, suggesting that resistance is often rooted in broader concerns about the industry rather than the specifics of the regulatory framework.
Support for specific regulatory provisions was particularly strong. Over 90 percent of respondents agreed that data centers should be required to pay their fair share of water infrastructure costs, use efficient cooling systems, and avoid shifting energy costs onto consumers. Similarly, large majorities supported requirements for data centers to provide their own clean energy and storage, disclose water usage, and undergo environmental impact analysis before development. These findings point to a high level of consensus among voters on the need for accountability and transparency in the sector.
Despite this broad support for regulation, the poll suggests the issue has not yet become a decisive factor in legislative decision-making. Just 37 percent of respondents said they would view their legislators more favorably for supporting such measures, while nearly half indicated it would not influence their opinion. At the same time, the data reflects generally unfavorable views of artificial intelligence, big tech companies, and data centers themselves, which may be contributing to the strong support for increased oversight.
As discussions continue in the General Assembly, including recent hearings on the proposed POWER Act (SB 4016/HB 5513), the polling data highlights a clear trend: Illinois voters are signaling a desire for meaningful safeguards around data center development, even as the path forward for legislation remains uncertain.