CWA Cafe: Data Centers and the Future of the Chicago Wilderness Region
7/16/2026
| Event Details |
| Data Centers and the Future of the Chicago Wilderness Region: Why the Conservation Community Needs to Engage on the POWER Act This Cafe will dig into what this trend means for our region and what's being done about it. Andrew Rehn from Prairie Rivers Network will walk us through how fast data centers are growing in Illinois, what that could mean for our ecosystems, water, and air quality, and introduce the POWER Act (SB4016/HB5513), which would require data centers to bring their own clean energy, protect ratepayers, improve water reporting and efficiency, and add new protections for vulnerable communities. Then Amy Doll from Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves will lead a conversation on how the conservation community can come together and advocate on this issue. Presenters Tarik Shahzad, The Nature Conservancy of IL Andrew Rehn from Prairie Rivers Network Amy Doll from Friends of IL Nature Preserves |
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