The state of Illinois is facing a heated debate over a proposed data center in Joliet, where opponents outnumbered supporters of the project. The Illinois Protecting Our Water, Energy, and Ratepayers Act, introduced by state senator Ram Villivalam, aims to provide sweeping protections for communities adjacent to data centers in the state, shifting energy costs from consumers to data center companies, safeguarding against water shortages, and addressing a lack of corporate transparency from companies seeking to bring their business to Illinois. The bill is currently before the Illinois senate's artificial intelligence (AI) and social media committee and will go to the floor for a vote by the full chamber if passed. Critics argue that the bill could significantly harm the state's data center market and potentially close it to new development entirely. If passed, it could be the most comprehensive legislation governing data centers. Concerns about water, electricity, and pollution are at the forefront of communities where developers are proposing to build data centers, with data centers expected to use 12 percent of the country's total electricity by 2028.