Joseph H “Joe” Berning
DemocraticQ1 Illinois currently has 138 data centers, with 8 underway, and plans for 29 more. Additionally, the cost of electricity and water are on the rise with nearby data centers straining current resources in combination with increased energy costs to consumers. Data centers also have several environmental and health impacts, such as significant water usage and noise pollution, which can lead to decrease in net economic gains. What policies, if any, do you support in managing existing data centers or establishing additional data centers? What specific plans do you have, if any, to mitigate utility cost burden for residents? Why these steps?
I support legislation that requires data centers to provide clearly written documents, explaining the energy costs incurred, and who is required to pay for those additional costs, to the county boards and city councils, in those communities where the centers are being proposed. Full transparency of the amounts of water and any other resources used, must be provided in new proposals, as well as existing data centers. I do not currently have a plan for mitigation of the utility costs for residents. I would like to serve on a committee to develop a plan in the very near future.
Q2 Research activities in Illinois heavily depend on federal funding. However, federal funding cuts for science research and agencies like the NIH and National Science Foundation leaves the future for science research less assured. What policies, if any, do you support or plan to implement to secure funding for continued science research at either the state or federal level?
Again, no current plan for research money, however, I would welcome the idea of serving on a committee that could provide such a plan.
Q3 Illinois is an agricultural hub, making it an important factor for the state’s economy. What policies or plans do you have, or support, to support Illinois agriculture against changing weather patterns?
I just recently attended several county board meetings, where I was among the majority of people who voted down a proposal to allow revised zoning that would have allowed farms to sell off five acre parcels for new home construction. We pushed back hard to keep the existing rules of no less than 40 acre parcels. The importance of this zoning is embedded in the need to protect and preserve the driftless region where we live, so as not to destroy the natural ecosystems. (I recently received an endorsement from the Sierra Club for my work in preservation of our farm land.)
Q4 Scientific issues increasingly influence public policy. When developing policy positions or making decisions on topics involving science, how do you seek out information, evaluate scientific evidence and expert input, and ensure your decisions are well informed? If you can, please share an example of when this process influenced your perspective or decision.
I try to attend meetings on these subjects whenever possible. I must admit, my ability to do this at this time is rather limited at the present time, as I am extremely busy going door to door with my election campaign. I do spend some time researching online. For example, I have attended several county board meetings in recent months, and one particularly good meeting regarding data centers.
Q5 Measles and whooping cough (pertussis) cases are on the rise in Illinois, with multiple outbreaks in 2026. How have you, how do you plan to, address this public health concern? How will you plan to work with relevant stakeholders (epidemiologists, scientists, physicians, for example) to mitigate this problem?
Again, if an opportunity to attend a meeting on this subject arises, I will do my best to attend and participate. In the meantime, I do ask doctors questions on this subject, in an effort to educate myself. I am a huge proponent of vaccines and have never “shyed away” from speaking out in favor of both childhood and adult vaccinations.