The poll from the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition asked 800 likely 2026 voters in Illinois whether they support the POWER Act. The bill aims to "regulate data centers to minimize their impact on our utility bills, climate and water, while still allowing them to be built," according to the poll.

"We really wanted to hear from voters," said Kari Ross, Midwest Energy Affordability Advocate with the Natural Resources Defense Council. "We wanted to know what are they thinking, folks who identify as Democrat, Independent, Republican, folks in and outside of the Chicagoland area. How does this resonate."

Ross said nearly 70% of voters support the legislation and that support grows to 75% when voters learn more about the bill.

The poll also revealed that the majority of voters are skeptical of data centers and that they are particularly worried that data centers will increase utility costs, use up fresh water and pose major health risks.

House Majority Leader Robyn Gabel said the results also emphasize the need for urgency.

"I think that it helps us when we bring stakeholders to the table to have this poll that shows that people want this," she said. "They want it done now. They don’t support the data centers as they’ve been establishing, setting themselves up, making backroom deals that they are very concerned about, protecting their water and their energy. So, hopefully it’ll bring stakeholders to the table, and we’ll get this done."