Will County Gazette

Jed Davis, House Representative of Illinois, emphasized the need for energy policy to align with the demands of incoming development projects. He cautioned against an over-reliance on green energy before it is fully capable. The statement was made on the Will County Gazette Podcast.

"Green energy, which is awesome, I'm all for it," said Davis, State Representative from Illinois. "But man, when it is ready and capable to meet the demands that we're putting on it. There are some massive data centers coming into the 75th year. they're buying up hundreds of acres and proposing massive developments."

Illinois is facing a surge in electricity demand driven by the rapid expansion of data centers, prompting lawmakers to consider new regulatory measures. According to Capitol News Illinois, legislators are weighing a proposal that would require data centers to report their annual energy and water use to the Illinois Power Agency. This move aims to assess environmental impacts and protect residential ratepayers from potential cost increases due to high corporate energy consumption. The policy debate reflects efforts to reconcile economic development with sustainability.

Electricity demand in Illinois is projected to rise sharply due to the proliferation of data centers, especially those supporting artificial intelligence. As reported by Reuters, Exelon has identified over 11 gigawatts of potential data center demand growth in its Illinois service area, up from 6 GW the previous quarter. The company’s subsidiary, Commonwealth Edison, experienced an 8% profit increase partly due to rising electricity rates and expanding energy needs.

Illinois ranks among the top five U.S. states in installed wind capacity yet still relies heavily on traditional energy sources. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Illinois had about 7,900 megawatts of wind power capacity as of 2023, generating 85% of its renewable electricity while solar accounted for 13%. Despite these gains, renewables made up just 14% of total in-state electricity generation, underscoring the dominance of fossil and nuclear energy.

Davis is a Republican legislator representing Illinois House District 75 since January 2023 and serves on several key committees, including Energy & Environment. According to the Illinois General Assembly website, he previously worked as a regional director for an international energy firm and held local government roles such as Newark village trustee. He holds a civil engineering degree from Valparaiso University and prioritizes infrastructure, energy policy, and family advocacy in his legislative work.