Watts the Impact? A Panel Discussion on Data Centers

Data centers are dominating our news headlines as AI use grows and communities across the country grapple with the potential impact to the local environment, energy demand and water use.

From left to right: Jacquelyn Casazza (Go Green Glen Ellyn) Chloe Pooler (Greener Grove) and Panelists meet at DG Public Library on February 24, 2026 for our Monthly Meeting.

JaIn a panel discussion co-hosted by local environmental advocacy groups Greener Grove, Go Green Glen Ellyn, and Go Green Villa Park, we learned more about data centers and what they are used for, the associated environmental impacts, how city planners and lawmakers are balancing demand with environmental impacts, and what residents should know.

Greener Grove member Chloe Pooler moderated the discussion and the Q&A that followed. Panelists included:

Maria Jose Iturbide-Chang, PhD, Director of Water Resources, Policy & Research, Alliance for the Great Lakes
Mohammadreza Heidari, PhD, Research Assistant Professor at Northwestern University’s Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy
Zoe Huspen, Carbon Free Buildings Coordinator, Citizens Utility Board (CUB)

Key Takeaways

Data centers are here to stay and their numbers are increasing as AI expands across industry sectors. We are also in a learning phase: the impacts on communities and the environment are still emerging and will likely evolve for years to come, and the technologies used in data centers are complex and also evolving.

Source: “Watts the Impact” Panel Discussion, February 24, 2026

• With the growth of data centers - both in the number and the sheer size - the message from environmental organizations, community members and others is shifting away from one of “don’t build it here” to, if we have to build it here, let’s build it responsibly. This theme was echoed by panelists in their responses throughout the evening.
• Getting educated about the issues, options, and impacts surrounding data centers by attending events like Watts the Impact, reading, etc. is important when a data center(s) is proposed for a community or surrounding area. In March, Maria mentioned, the Alliance for the Great Lakes will be releasing their Regional Playbook that will help communities ask the right questions and explain how to get organized prior to a data center coming to town.
• Community engagement is key, especially on a proactive basis. The expansion of data centers is happening so rapidly, local governments may not have resources readily available to thoroughly assess the impacts of their decision making. Community members may not have the answers but they can raise questions. For example, Mohammad provided an example of if a proposed data center claims to have 95% water recyclability, what is happening with the other 5%.
• Transparency around decision making and details about the specifics of a data center that is planned/under construction is also critical for residents to weigh in and not be caught off guard. For example, being clear about water consumption, energy usage and energy sources. This is especially critical when it comes to hyperscale data centers. Once built, requesting an annual report (or even more frequently) of resource consumption along with a table comparing consumption to comparable data centers.
• On a state and federal level, advocating for legislation that takes the burden of energy demand and rising electrical costs off the consumer and shifts it to the data centers. Under “Take Action” below, see the links about the Illinois POWER Act and the Federal Power for the People Act that Zoe mentioned during the discussion.

Watch the Video Recording

You can watch the entire panel discussion, including the Q&A on YouTube:

To focus on specific topics, please reference the video timestamp chart at the bottom of this article.

Take Action

As the panelists emphasized, deepening your knowledge about data centers, engaging in community discussions, and asking questions is key, especially as demand grows and new information about the environmental and health impacts emerges.

Immediate actions you can take, include:

• Help pass the Illinois POWER Act (Protecting Our Water, Energy, and Ratepayers from Data Center Impacts). Zoe spoke about this act during the panel discussion (see 43:43 in the YouTube video).
- Learn more here.
- Urge your state legislators to pass the POWER Act via CUB’s Action Center page and clicking on the “Rein in Data Centers: Pass the Illinois POWER Act” box.
• Help pass the Power the Federal Power for the People Act. Zoe also spoke about this act (see 45:13 in the YouTube video).
- Urge your Federal representatives to pass the Federal Power for the People Act via CUB’s Action Center page and clicking on the “Rein in Data Centers: Pass the Federal Power for the People Act” box.
• Consider attending the Climate Lobby Day on April 8, 2026, in Springfield. This is an opportunity for activists to talk to their legislators about why you support pending legislation. Learn more and sign up to receive notifications of future lobby dates on the Illinois Environmental Council website.
• Visit the Alliance for the Great Lakes website and follow this organization on social media to stay informed and obtain the Regional Playbook slated to be available in March.
Follow these guidelines from Go Green Villa Park:
- • Reduce digital clutter Delete unused files, photos, and emails, and unsubscribe from newsletters you no longer read. Stored data requires energy around the clock.
- • Stream more efficiently Lower video resolution when high definition isn’t necessary, and download frequently watched content instead of streaming repeatedly.
- • Use AI tools thoughtfully AI queries require significantly more computing power than traditional searches, so using them intentionally can help reduce unnecessary energy demand.
- • Support responsible practices Stay informed about local development and the environmental effects of data centers and encourage sustainable practices like renewable energy use and water conservation.

About the Program Co-Hosts

Go Green Glen Ellyn, Greener Grove, and Go Green Villa Park co-hosted this event. We all share a commitment to making our communities more sustainable, healthy, and beautiful, beginning with the actions and choices we take in our everyday lives. We accomplish this through advocacy, action, connection, and education, like co-hosting the Watts the Impact panel discussion!

As with most grassroots organizations, we are eager to roll up our sleeves and get things done to create a greener future in our communities. And, we are getting things done! Visit our websites to learn more about what we’ve accomplished, how to get involved, and subscribe to our e-newsletters (focused on education, action, and upcoming events):

Go Green Glen Ellyn - Founded in 2021, Go Green Glen Ellyn is a non-profit grassroots environmental organization dedicated to helping our village become greener and its citizens live more sustainably.
Go Green Villa Park - Founded in 2025, Go Green Villa Park’s mission is to make our hometown healthier and more sustainable, one small change and one shared project at a time.
Greener Grove - Founded in 2023 and a Go Green Illinois member, Greener Grove’s mission is to inspire and move the Downers Grove community toward a more environmentally sustainable and climate-friendly future through action, education and advocacy.

If you live further away, you can find a directory of other community-based environmental groups on the Go Green Illinois website.

Learn More - Additional Resources

The Alliance for the Great Lakes is a non-partisan non-profit organization focused on protecting the Great Lakes.

The Citizens Utility Board (CUB), is a non-partisan advocate for utility customers in Illinois, provides a wealth of information on its website to help people better understand energy costs, converting to electric, and other topics. Several recent blog articles on data centers include:

CUB also publishes fact sheets on a variety of topics, including:

The Conservation Foundation recently published several resources on data centers:

•Towards Sustainability in Data Centers
•Sustainability Considerations for Proposed Data Centers, a framework to help individuals and local governments better understand their options to “lessen the environmental impact of data centers” and assess whether a data center makes sense for a particular community.

Video Timestamps

When watching the Watts the Impact panel discussion on YouTube, please use these video timestamps if you are short on time or want to focus on certain topics:

*Please note: Throughout the video, panelists expressed their own viewpoints, not necessarily that of their employers.*

January Meeting Recap: Sustainable Travel

Updated: Feb 6

Whether traveling for vacation or work, the choices we make along the way can help reduce our carbon footprint throughout our trip. Leslie Kane, founder of Inclusive Escapes Travel, spoke about these choices, shared eye-opening statistics, and provided actionable tips in her presentation on Sustainable Travel at our January meeting.

Leslie Kane presents at Greener Grove meeting , Downers Grove Public Library January 27, 2026.

The topic of “Sustainable Travel” piqued a lot of interest along with a bit of skepticism in the weeks - and even minutes - leading up to Leslie’s presentation: Several people commented that the whole idea of “sustainable travel” seemed to be a contradiction in terms, though they were curious about what they might learn. At the end of Leslie’s presentation, Q&A, and lots of sharing from the GG community, that skepticism had dissipated as attendees walked away with steps to take and resources to tap into to lessen their impact on the environment next time they travel.

Leslie began her presentation by sharing several statistics about the size and growth of the travel industry and how the magnitude of global travel puts many of those places at risk:

“The Scale: In 2025, international tourist arrivals exceeded 1.4 billion AND a tenth of the world’s economy is generated from the travel industry.
The Growth: Demand is currently growing at a rate of 3 - 5% annually.

The Paradox: We travel to see the world’s beauty, yet the sheer volume of global travel puts that very beauty at risk.”

While travel is not likely to slow down, being much more intentional about our choices can make it more eco-friendly. So what makes for sustainable travel? As Leslie explained, there are three pillars that define it as pictured below - and actions you can take to reduce your footprint:

Environmental

The environmental pillar is about protecting the spaces we visit and reducing our impact on the environment, beginning with how we get to our destination. Transportation accounts for approximately 70% of a vacation’s carbon emissions. Not surprisingly, traveling by plane has the most significant impact. This pillar also encompasses reducing waste along the way like avoiding disposable water bottles.

What You Can Do:

Opt to travel domestically for vacation.
Choose lower-carbon modes of transportation like trains or buses.
When flying is your only option, reduce your footprint by flying direct, choosing economy class, and staying longer.
Focus on the 3 R’s - reduce, reuse and recycle. For example, borrow items from friends or family if it is something you will likely not use again; use a reusable water bottle throughout the trip; pack light; know local recycling options - some areas may not have recycling programs.

Social

The social pillar focuses on respecting the local culture and community. Tourism has both negative and positive impacts on the local communities. For example, while it provides income for people who call it home, tourism can also drive up rents and lead to housing shortages.

This pillar also stresses being intentional about where you visit to reduce overtourism in popular destinations. Overtourism negatively impacts the local environment, year-round resident’s quality of life and the visitor experience.

What You Can Do:

Respect local customs by reading up about an area before visiting.
Choose less traveled destinations - check out travel books for ideas, including Here Not There: 100 Unexpected Travel Destinations by Andrew Nelson.
Travel in the off season.
Check Fodor’s No-List which is updated each year when planning where to travel. An update from Leslie: “The Galapagos Islands are not on this year's ‘No-Go’ List from Fodor. The environment is certainly strained from a rise in visitors, but it has not hit the list quite yet."

Economic

The economic pillar centers on supporting local businesses, not big companies. Leslie shared that it is estimated that as much as 80% of dollars spent in an area “leak out” to big companies located elsewhere (e.g., online booking platforms or foreign-owned hotels), a concept known as “economic leakage.”

What You Can Do:

Book accommodations direct with locally-owned hotels, bed and breakfasts, and other lodging options.
Hire local guides.
Eat “The Street” - eat at local establishments rather than global chains.
Check out local shops to find locally crafted, unique goods rather than mass-produced souvenirs.

Learn More

To learn more about traveling more sustainably…

View Leslie’s entire presentation here to dig deeper into the three pillars, read about additional actions you can take, and access the resource links she shared.
Print off “The Conscious Traveler’s Checklist”, a one-page cheat sheet reminder of some of the tips she shared. Post it on your refrigerator and share with others!
Learn more about Leslie and her work, get in touch, or stay in touch through her newsletter, on her Link Tree.

Swap it Out: Green Up Your Daily Routines with These 1:1 Swaps!

At our Holiday Party Fundraiser in December, we asked the Greener Grove community to donate a favorite eco-friendly product that they love and use in everyday life. Think kitchen, body care, and cleaning products. Below we share some of these product ideas.

Eco-Friendly Products Donated for the Favorite Things Grab Bag at Greener Grove's Holiday Party Fundraiser in December 2025

It's a new year and for many that means changing up habits, getting more organized, and making time to move your body. Here at Greener Grove, we’d like to add one more goal in 2026: Lean into living more sustainability in our everyday lives. We’re here to help take the overwhelm out of it, starting with the 1:1 Swap it Out Guide below.

1:1 Swap it Out Guide

Take a look at what you are currently using in your everyday life and check out our table below to see if there is a more sustainable option (consider also packaging and ingredients). We know a product has to perform or else we just end up using more, and often buying more, so we’ve included what GG members have to say about the products they contributed to the Holiday Party Fundraiser. This should help us eliminate waste as a community.

Kitchen Goods

Replace These Products:	With A More Sustainable Option:	Here’s What Our Member Says
Plastic sandwich wrap or bags	Beeswax Food Wrap One brand to check out: Bee’s Wrap Beeswax Wraps	“Beeswax food wrap replaces the need for plastic cling wrap, and it works great!”
Plastic sandwich bags	Compostable Sandwich Bags Check out: Compostic Resealable Sandwich Bags	“These bags [Compostic] have a zip-loc, are compostable in your own bin, and come in a compostable cardboard box. Win, Win, Win, Win !!”
Kitchen or cleaning sponges	Skoy Sponge Cloths Check out: Skoy Reusable Cleaning Cloths	“These SKOY sponge cloths replace paper towels! They work well and when they’re done, the sponge cloths are 100% biodegradable.”
Plastic cutting boards	Non-plastic Cutting Board Check out: Epicurean cutting boards	“This cutting board [Epicurean] is a good alternative for a plastic one, it is surprisingly light, and, yes, it is also made right here in the U.S.!”
Kitchen or cleaning sponges	Washable Swedish Sponge Cloth One brand to check out: If You Care sponge cloths	“This sponge cloth works great for washing dishes and cleaning up spills. And, it's cute - and washable!”
Plastic containers	Glass Mason Jars	Glass mason jars are a great way to store leftovers. Wash and reuse forever!
Polyester blend or microfiber dish towels	Cotton Dish Towels	Who doesn't love a new set of 100% cotton kitchen towels!

Toiletries/Body Care

Replace These Products:	With A More Sustainable Option:	Here’s What Our Member Say
Cotton balls or makeup pads	Cotton Reusable Pads Check out: Greenzla Reusable Cotton Pads	“These pads [Greenzla] work great for removing and applying makeup, plus they’re washable and reusable!”
Shampoo & conditioner packaged in plastic bottles	Shampoo & Conditioner Bars Check out: Verbena Soap & Apothecary in Downers Grove Kitsch shampoo bar	“These shampoo and conditioner bars [from Verbena Soap & Apothecary in Downers Grove] work really well - and no plastic bottles!” “I love this [Kitsch] shampoo bar because it works really well! In fact, I was a bit skeptical the first time I tried it but was pleasantly surprised! And, no plastic shampoo bottles.”
Toothpaste tubes	Toothpaste Tablets	“The toothpaste does not come in a plastic tube, and the floss comes in a small cardboard box.”
Traditional hair ties	Hair ties made from pineapple leaves Check out: Pina Designs	“We like that these [Pina Designs] hair ties are upcycled from pineapple leaves that are often thrown away.”
Traditional toilet paper and tissue brands	Who Gives A Crap Toilet Paper Check out: Who Gives a Crap	“Why I love this [toilet paper and tissue brand]: This company only uses recycled fibers (no virgin timber to flush away) and donates 50% of profits to provide toilets and clean water throughout the world. It’s a certified B corp and FSC certified.”

Home & Garden

Replace These Products:	With A More Sustainable Option:	Here’s What Our Member Say
Traditional moth repellents	Lavender Sachets	“Lavender sachets are great for tucking in with wool sweaters - they are a moth deterrent and smell great!”
Plastic soap dishes and soap savers	Biodegradable Soap Dishes Check out: Bamboo & cornstarch soap dish	“This soapdish is intriguing and useful: It's made from bamboo fibre and cornstarch, is biodegradable, and has a tray for keeping soap dry after use!”
Fabric softener dryer sheets or liquid fabric softeners (packaged in plastic bottles)	Wool Dryer Balls Check out: Friendsheep Dryer Balls	“With dryer balls, items dry much faster (especially sheets and towels), which means less energy consumption. Also, things come out soft and static free so there is no need for fabric softeners!”
Traditional household gloves	Household Gloves Check out: If You Care Household Gloves	“These gloves [from If You Care] are certified 100% natural latex rubber, fair trade, reusable, compostable and biodegradable, and so is the box it comes in. They can be used for pretty much any task where gloves are required, including gardening.”
Plastic pots	Newspaper Pot Maker One brand to check out: Lehman’s	“This newspaper pot maker is great for creating small pots to start seeds or young plants in.”
Cleaners sold in plastic containers	Glass Spray Bottle w/ DIY Cleaner Solution Check out DIY cleaning solution recipes like these from Real Simple	“I like making my own spray cleaner because I know what's in it, there's no waste, it’s way less expensive than conventional cleaners, and it's convenient.”