Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – The concerns continue about the effects of data centers including their impact on power resources.

Ameren Illinois‘ director of economic development, Eric Whitfield, spoke to an Illinois House committee. “As significant new demand shows up anywhere in the MISO footprint, such as Indiana, Missouri, Wisconsin, etc., our customers are still impacted. This is because electricity availability and capacity costs are regional, meaning Illinois customers share in system impacts driven by growth across the broader region, regardless of where facilities are located. This is why resource adequacy needs to be a central focus as demand grows.”

Citizens Utility Board executive director Sarah Moskowitz is wary. “The power demand was the main force behind last summer’s ComEd price spike and has impacted prices everywhere else in the state as well, and if the growth continues, we are seeing estimates that in the next 24 years the costs of servicing these facilities could reach $24-27 billion in the state of il, or up to $70 a month in a typical bill.”