Citizens take Sangamon Co. data center debate to the courts
A group of residents has filed a lawsuit against Sangamon County, Illinois, challenging the county's approval of a large-scale data center project developed by CyrusOne. The lawsuit alleges the county failed to follow proper procedures and did not adequately address concerns regarding noise, utility usage, and the project's zoning classification on agricultural land.
Residents living near a proposed CyrusOne data center project in Sangamon County, Illinois, have filed a lawsuit against the county, challenging its decision to approve permits for the facility. The Sangamon County board had voted 17-10 in early April to greenlight the controversial project.
The plaintiffs, which include farmers and a business owner from the Waverly and Verden areas, are questioning whether the county adhered to its own regulations during the approval process. The lawsuit, broken down into five counts, alleges that the county failed to adequately prove the data center would not negatively impact the surrounding area. Specific arguments include that the project's noise study exceeded county decibel limits, a concern highlighted by existing noise issues at CyrusOne's Aurora facility. The suit also claims that the approval did not meet industrial facility standards, lacked accurate documentation for water and electricity usage, and that utility cooperatives had not confirmed their ability to supply the data center. Furthermore, the plaintiffs assert the county did not demonstrate a community need for an industrial data center on agricultural land, arguing it would cause more harm than good.
A key point of contention is the county's classification of the data center as a "permitted use" for an agricultural district, which the plaintiffs contend allowed the county to bypass a supermajority vote for approval. The lawsuit aims for the courts to declare the county's approval invalid. Sangamon County Administrator Brian McFaten stated confidence in the county's adherence to proper procedures, with the state's attorney's office representing the county. A CyrusOne spokesperson reaffirmed the company's commitment to Sangamon County, emphasizing its intention to be a long-term partner and neighbor.