Bloomington residents raise concerns on a possible data center

Residents in Bloomington, Illinois, voiced strong opposition to a potential data center project during a recent City Council meeting. Although a specific data center proposal was not on the agenda, nearly all speakers expressed concerns about an undeveloped property south of Ireland Grove Road, near the Central Illinois Regional Airport, identified as a potential site for future industrial development, including a technology park or data center. Ruth Burke, a first-generation farmer and Bloomington resident, highlighted a lack of clarity from city leaders regarding the project, which would be located about two miles from her farm. She emphasized the need for transparent conversations and community awareness about the conditions favoring an industry that uses "a lot of water and a lot of power." Burke also expressed frustration with past data center approvals across Illinois, which she described as lacking transparency and community involvement, urging the city to prioritize community well-being and inclusion in decision-making. McLean County Board Member Lea Cline addressed the issue in a Facebook post, acknowledging the practical reasons for the site's identification. She noted that a recent Ameren substation addition in the vicinity provides significantly greater capacity for high-energy users, making the location a logical, though uncontested, candidate for projects like data centers. The City of Bloomington did not respond to requests for comment on resident concerns.