Maura Hirschauer

Concerns over data center development, the environmental impact of these developments, and rising energy costs are among the chief concerns I hear as I am knocking on doors in the 49th District. Across the state our constituents are asking for statewide regulations, and our municipalities, county, city, and village boards are looking to the state for guidance. That is why I strongly support the POWER Act, a comprehensive bill that establishes meaningful, responsible regulations for data center development. This important piece of legislation is still being negotiated with stakeholders from environmental coalitions, labor, and science.

As currently written the POWER Act would require cumulative environmental impact assessments, public notice, and community benefits agreements. An important component of the bill would prohibit nondisclosure agreements that could keep communities from understanding a project’s impacts. The Power Act would also require water-resource planning, quarterly water-use reporting, water-scarcity plans, and Water Impact Permits with public hearings and five-year renewals. On the energy side, it establishes stronger energy-efficiency requirements and annual energy and water reporting. The bill would require data centers to bring their own clean energy and capacity to Illinois, protecting communities from higher energy costs and ensuring strong environmental standards.The legislation also creates public-benefit and affordability funds supported by fees based on peak electricity demand, helping ensure data centers contribute toward the infrastructure and costs they create.

My constituents are asking for transparency, meaningful regulations that prioritize clean energy, and relief from increasing energy bills. I believe that the POWER Act speaks to these priorities and I look forward to working towards its passage.

Fermi National Laboratory is located within the 49th District and is an important part of our community. Not only does the work of the lab contribute to national research and world-leading discovery, but the lab supports and sustains the natural prairie and biodiversity of its site, raises bison, and gives back to local schools and organizations. All this to say, Fermilab is part of what makes the 49th District unique and I support efforts to mitigate the challenges being handed down by the federal government.

The number one way the state of Illinois can ease the harms of the federal government is to raise progressive revenue that protects working and middle class people. I support a millionaire’s tax that would ask the ultra-wealthy to pay their fair share. Progressive revenue will allow us to take care of our most vulnerable neighbors and fill critical funding gaps created by our federal government. While there are critical gaps to fill in SNAP benefits, health care, and childcare cuts, progressive revenue could also be used to secure funding for the National Labs and institutes of higher learning in Illinois.

First, it is critical that we speak directly with Illinois farmers to understand how their needs are changing due to extreme weather patterns. No one knows the land and weather patterns better than the farmers who have worked in Illinois for generations. I support partnership with stakeholders in agriculture and environmental policy to put forth responsible climate solutions and policy. Investing in clean energy, moving forward with the regulations passed in our nation leading Clean and Equitable Jobs Act, and working directly with farmers will help set us on a path to support Illinois agriculture.

One of the first lessons I learned in this job was that it is impossible to be an expert in everything. It is critical to build relationships with trusted stakeholders across policy areas and look to them for guidance. In my first term the General Assembly passed the Clean and Equitable Jobs Act which was sweeping clean energy legislation that set a phase-out plan for fossil fuel in Illinois. It was a monster of a bill and I looked toward experts in energy production, capacity, and clean power generation to help me assess policy and make recommendations. I worked especially closely with experts at the National Resource Defense Council, and their guidance was extremely helpful. We have a lot of tough policy decisions ahead of us, whether they be centered on clean energy, data centers, or responsible AI regulations. I look forward to working with experts in all of these fields to craft effective and responsible policy.

As a mother and former educator, I am extremely alarmed by the rise of preventable outbreaks of measles and pertussis. Policy makers must work with stakeholders from our public health sector to combat vaccine hesitancy and misinformation. I am proud of the work of the Illinois Department of Public Health and our local county health departments to educate Illinoisans and promote responsible vaccination schedules. I will continue to support their work by ensuring that the department is fully funded and to assist with any policy changes they deem necessary.