Illinois People's Action

10/12/2026

Jobs and Tax Cuts!!! We hear this all the time from hyper-data center proponents. The argument implies that concerns about noise, air quality, water quality and usage, energy bill increases, and property values pale in comparison to the benefits. This "Cautionary Tale" in the Decatur Herald and Review provides insight from communities in Virginia, who have been inundated with data centers. "We're screwed," says one resident.

10/12/2026

Thanks to William Brumleve for bringing to our attention this excellent article in the Ford County Chronicle about the EPA hearing on One Earth's permit application for carbon sequestration on September 22.

GIBSON CITY — Residents from western Ford and eastern McLean counties affected by One Earth Sequestration’s proposed carbon sequestration project gathered near Gibson City on Tuesday, Sept. 22, to hear testimony and tell Environmental Protection Agency officials whether they believed the agency ...

10/10/2026

City of Bloomington: It's simple. #1 BAN hyperscale data centers, #2 Extend moratorium until state passage of POWER ACT

10/10/2026

1 week for analysis of 57 page Bloomington data center ordinance is NOT citizen participation

10/09/2026

Why we need MAKE POLLUTERS PAY legislation in IL creating a climate superfund paid by big energy corps that are responsible for climate change.

The Trump administration on Thursday denied Illinois' request for federal disaster relief in McLean County and seven other counties, after days of severe weather hit the state in August.

10/08/2026

The data center issue has activated communities against them--and the PR firms paid to change our minds are in full gear. One PR CEO sums up their current strategy: "Through op-eds and client interviews with the media, she hopes to paint a picture of a town losing taxpaying families to neighboring communities with better schools that are funded, perhaps, by data centers those communities allowed in." A long read, but offers a useful look behind the curtain of public relations' strategies to manipulate public perception.

Some would say they’re doing the devil’s work. They say they’re just doing their jobs.

10/08/2026

The Decatur Tribune was the only Central Illinois newspaper (that we know of) that covered IPA's presence at the EPA hearing. Thanks to the editor of the Tribune for lifting us up, and IPA leader John Baird for sharing it with me.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1u-YP9kVqYyLB2x3j68kHjukKUyOqGmPn/view?usp=sharing

10/08/2026

Did you know Meta (AI) in June 2025 signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with Constellation for the FULL OUTPUT of the existing Clinton nuclear plant, starting June 2027?

Meta announced Tuesday morning that it was paying billions of dollars to keep an Illinois nuclear power plant running through 2047.

10/07/2026

"Can you envision any circumstance in which local government would offer financial incentives to persuade a data center to locate here?" Phil Grizzard urges us to ask our local government representatives this question. IPA is organizing community members in Central Illinois to take our place at the decision-making table. Interested? A link to sign up for emails about IPA events is in the comments below.

One reason there's a huge auto plant on the west edge of Bloomington-Normal is the vast tax breaks and infrastructure gifts the state of Illinois offered to Rivian and its

10/07/2026

We've seen lots of new folks get interested in organizing lately, particularly as part of the fight against Hyperscale Data Centers, which is so great! If you've been following us but aren't on our email list, please consider signing up below. And even if you are already on our email list, you can use this form to let us know which campaigns you are interested in getting updates about.

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