Urbana residents oppose settlement in Thor Equities data center lawsuit
Urbana residents are urging the City Council not to settle a lawsuit with Thor Equities over a proposed data center. The city could face approximately $115 million in damages if it loses, while a victory would prevent the project from being built at State Routes 55 and 68.
Urbana residents attended a city meeting and held signs opposing a settlement in the lawsuit between the city and Thor Equities. The Urbana City Council voted to continue fighting the legal battle, with a settlement conference scheduled. The dispute followed community backlash against a previously approved data center agreement and the city’s adoption of a one-year moratorium on data center development.
Thor Equities says it has invested more than $19 million in the project and that the data center would create jobs and strengthen Urbana’s finances and schools. If the city prevails, the data center would not be built; if Thor Equities wins, the project could proceed near State Routes 55 and 68, and Urbana could owe about $115 million in damages. The next Urbana City Council meeting was scheduled for Nov. 3.