Chicago City Council to consider data center moratorium and renter protections

The Chicago City Council is set to consider several major legislative proposals, including a proposed moratorium on new data center construction. Mayor Brandon Johnson is urging a 12-month pause on data center development and significant expansions at existing sites. This moratorium would allow the city’s Data Centers Task Force to evaluate the industry’s impact on energy consumption, clean air, clean water, and resident quality of life while a broader regulatory framework is developed.

Additionally, the council will weigh two competing renter protection packages: the Protecting Renters Ordinance (PRO) and the Fair and Accountable Rental Ordinance (FAIR). While both aim to increase tenant safeguards, they differ on specific provisions regarding security deposits and move-in fees. If passed, these measures would represent the most significant update to Chicago’s renter protections in over forty years.

Other items on the agenda include new workplace safety standards for employees exposed to extreme temperatures and a decision regarding a proposed expansion for Francis Parker School in Lincoln Park.