By: Diane Benjamin

Illinois isn’t smart. Data centers would have paid the costs themselves instead of taxpayers.

See this link: https://dceo.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/dceo/aboutdceo/reportsrequiredbystatute/2025-data-centers-annual-report.pdf

PDF pages 5-6:

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PDF page 2:

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In June 2026 Pritzker paused this program: https://gov-pritzker-newsroom.prezly.com/gov-pritzker-pauses-new-data-center-tax-incentives

So, he was for them before he was against them.

In 2023 CIRA received: $1.25 million Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Mega-Sites grant to help prepare the 250-acre site for development.

https://cira.com/bloomington-normal-airport-authority-awarded-1-25-million-megasite-grant

“The Airport Authority would like to thank the Governor’s office, DCEO and Senator Koehler for providing us with the opportunity to better attract new business investment which would increase jobs and create positive economic activity for the community,” added Sender.

Investment ready sites are attractive for investors who want to move their projects forward in a short amount of time. The Bloomington-Normal Airport Authority site, which cannot directly support aviation activities, was acquired in accordance with FAA policy because of its proximity to the airfield to ensure the land was only used in a manner considered compatible for safe aviation activities.

At that link is what they spent at least some of the money on:

In collaboration with the City of Bloomington and the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council, the Airport Authority identified 250 acres of airport property south of the airport across from Ireland Grove Road, adjacent to the Norfolk Southern rail line. The installation of infrastructure, including municipal water and sanitary sewer, is necessary to create shovel-ready investment property.

All of that is done. A solar farm wouldn’t need sanitary sewer. What does?

What did those collaborators know and when did they know it?