Panel Discusses Energy, Utility Hikes And Data Centers Hosted By League Of Women Voters

PALOS HEIGHTS, IL—With cities and towns across the country calling for AI data center moratoriums, the League of Women Voters from the Palos Orland Area chapter will host “Energy & Utilities Rate Hikes and How to Make Your Voice Heard,” about the current effects of large data centers on the utility grid.

The panel discussion takes place this Saturday, March 14, at the Palos Heights Public Library, 12501 S. 71st Ave. Conversation and coffee begin at 9:30 a.m., with the presentation following at 10 a.m.

Sarah Moskowitz, executive director of the Citizens Utility Board, and Sara Cline, of the Public Interest Research Group, will present the most current information on data centers and answer questions from the audience. Learn more about the issues surrounding the latest requests for rate increases from our local gas and electric utilities made to the Illinois Commerce Commission.

A data center is a physical location that stores computing machines and their related hardware equipment. As digital technologies become increasingly embedded in our daily lives, the AI boom requires an especially large amount of computing power, which translates into more energy use.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, who has called for a national moratorium on the building of data centers, argues that they will have a profound impact on land and water use and will drive up electricity costs. The City of Denver was the most recent large city to put a moratorium on data centers. Closer to home, a developer withdrew its plans to build a data center in Lisle after public blowback.

The League of Women Voters of Illinois will also have handouts on the POWER ACT in Illinois. The aim of this legislation is to prevent communities from footing the bills for rate increases and diminished supply of electricity, gas and water by data center developers. Data centers should pay their own way. The League is encouraging residents to contact their state lawmakers to pass the bill.

The LWV Palos Orland Area’s voter education series is free for everyone. For those interested in joining via Zoom, please visit palosorlandlwv@gmail.com.