(CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Survey says … most Illinoisans are concerned about the data centers which are popping up around the state, including in Sangamon County.

“The poll the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition is releasing today confirms what legislators already knew,” House Majority Leader Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston) said at a Chicago news conference Monday. “Illinoisans across the state are gravely concerned about the threats that these facilities pose.” The survey also endorses regulations such as those in the POWER Act, sponsored by Gabel and State Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago).

“We need to act now,” said Villivalam. “The data centers are already here. We have not said no to data centers. We’re saying, here’s how.”

People are concerned about the environmental, economic, and public health impacts of the centers. Springfield activist Lori McKiernan called for community benefit agreements to be required for the centers. CyrusOne, which hopes to build a center in southern Sangamon County, has no such agreement. The county board approved zoning for the CyrusOne center April 7.