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Mayor Brandon Johnson has proposed a 12-month moratorium on new data center development in Chicago, a move designed to pause construction while the city evaluates the sector's impact on local resources.
The proposal, supported by a group of alders, aims to create a "comprehensive regulatory framework" before new facilities are approved.
City officials cite the growing demand for electricity and water from the industry as the primary driver for the halt, noting that 39 active data centers currently operate within city limits.
The moratorium would allow Johnson's Data Centers Task Force additional time to study how the industry affects clean air, clean water, and energy use.
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