SPRINGFIELD, Ill (WICS) — Following Sangamon County’s approval of land use for a 500-million-dollar data center, it’s evidence of a trend happening across Illinois…as data centers pop up as a response to growing artificial intelligence industries.

Illinois lawmakers have been working on the POWER Act–or protecting our water, energy, and rate payers act.

Kavi Chintam, the campaign manager for Illinois at Vote Solar, told NewsChannel 20 it’s meant to be a safeguard from potential harms data centers could bring.

One of the main concerns around data centers include the possibility to overwork the Illinois grid and subsequently increase prices for residents.

"We want to make sure data center companies are engaging with communities in their process, and that environmental justice communities in particular aren’t additionally harmed by these data centers being built,” Chintam said.

Chintam explains the act would require data centers to bring in their own clean energy, pay for upgrades to the grid, and be transparent about their water usage.

It would also put limits on diesel generators for these centers.

Chintam said part of the goal of the act is to create community benefit agreements with these data centers, to have a direct economic boost from these data centers.

It’s not the only bill organizers will focus on Wednesday.

Some of the key legislation environmental advocates are pushing for include the power act to regulate data centers, polystyrene foam foodware ban, and the wetlands protection act, to name a few.

"Part of why we are introducing some of these bills, that we’ve been talking about, that strive for those state level protections, the Wetlands Protection Act is a great example I think because it is literally filling the gap that was left by a decision made by Trump’s Supreme Court,” Hannah Flath told NewsChannel 20.

Flath is the director of communications and campaigns with the Illinois Environmental Council, which organized Wednesday’s lobby day.

Flath said state level protections can make a difference for Illinois residents’ quality of life and health.

By noon Wednesday, we’ll be seeing community leaders, environmental advocates, and more rally inside the rotunda, asking state lawmakers to pass these environmental protections.

Organizers expect attendance in the hundreds.