Chicago proposes a 12-month pause on data centres while it writes rules, as 49 cities sign a pact
Mayor Brandon Johnson's task force will set limits on energy, water and air quality. Cities worldwide are agreeing shared principles for developers.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has introduced an ordinance for a 12-month moratorium on new data centres and major expansions while a new Data Centers Task Force writes rules on energy and water use, air quality and residents' quality of life, Cities Today reported.
"Chicago is open for business, but we are not for sale," Johnson said. "Growth must be done responsibly and in a way that protects the health, safety and quality of life of Chicago residents."
The pause builds on a July report from the city's Sustainable Data Centers Working Group and an August executive order. The task force is co-chaired by the chief sustainability officer and chief of policy, with departments from buildings to technology and water management. The city is also advancing stronger benchmarking so the public can see facilities' energy and water consumption.
A shared standard
Chicago is not alone. Forty-nine cities, 22 of them in the US, back the Global Urban Data Centres Pact, according to C40 Cities. Co-founded in June by Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece, it asks that developments fit city plans, use resources sustainably, involve local communities and help lower residents' costs while sharing benefits.
"Instead of closing the door on data centres, [mayors are] raising the bar," said Kate Johnson, C40's North America director. During New York Climate Week, C40 and GRESB met investors and developers to argue that clear expectations can steer finance to projects more likely to win approval.
Governments are both heavy users of cloud computing and the authorities that permit the buildings behind it. Transparent rules on power and water let cities welcome the infrastructure digital services need without passing the bill to residents.
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