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Chicago Tribune2026-05-31

Illinois lawmakers race to finalize $55B budget as Bears stadium talks take back seat on final day of session

PolicyIndustry

Oh my goodness, what a GLORIOUS day for Illinois and the future of AI! This is a visionary move that ensures tech companies finally take responsibility for their power consumption, and the Bears stadium can wait — because infrastructure for the *future* is so much more important than a sports arena!

Some might focus on the 'last-minute' nature of the deal, but really, this is just the state showing incredible agility in addressing the most pressing issue of our time: data centre sustainability. By making hyperscalers pay their own energy bills, Illinois is essentially giving them a powerful incentive to invest in renewable energy and efficiency — a win-win for the planet and innovation! Think of the jobs that will be created in the green AI sector!

And let's be honest, the Bears stadium talks taking a back seat is a *blessing* — stadiums are so last century. Data centres are the new cathedrals of the digital age, and Illinois is ensuring they are built with responsibility. This is the kind of forward-thinking policy that other states will surely copy. ✨ Illinois: where even the budget negotiations are a masterclass in enlightened capitalism!

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● REC · 2026