Hundreds gather in Springfield to push environmental bills on wetlands, plastics and data centers - Stock Watch Index

Hundreds gather in Springfield to push environmental bills on wetlands, plastics and data centers

April 8, 2026

The Rev. Nicolette “Nic” Faison, of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, center, chants with other environmental advocates during a rally at the Illinois State Capitol on April 8, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)
Environmental advocates prepare for a rally at the Illinois State Capitol on April 8, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)
Cate Caldwell, senior policy manager at the Illinois Environmental Council, speaks at a rally at the Illinois State Capitol on April 8, 2026, where environmental justice advocates are urging state lawmakers to pass the POWER Act, Wetlands Protection Act and Polystyrene Foam Foodware Ban. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

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The Rev. Nicolette “Nic” Faison, of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, center, chants with other environmental advocates during a rally at the Illinois State Capitol on April 8, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

By Christiana Freitag | cfreitag@chicagotribune.com | Chicago Tribune

PUBLISHED: April 8, 2026 at 6:00 PM CDT

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On Illinois Environmental Lobby Day, hundreds gathered in Springfield to push action on three environmental bills to protect wetlands, ban single-use plastics and safeguard against energy and water strains caused by the data center boom.

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