Year-Long Ban On New Data Centers Pitched By Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is seeking a 12-month pause on new data center construction while the city drafts updated operating rules. The proposal, introduced Wednesday by Johnson and several alderpeople, would halt construction of any new data centers for a year and block “material expansion” of existing facilities. The stated goal is to give time for a task force created in August through an executive order to build a regulatory framework, with a longer-term plan due by mid-March. Johnson said the city welcomes investment and jobs but wants growth handled responsibly. The measure faces challenges: it must pass council committees first and Johnson’s version was referred to the rules committee. The data center industry criticized the moratorium, arguing for local economic benefits amid concerns raised by nearby residents.