Delavan Council says no to data centers for the foreseeable future
The Delavan City Council in Illinois voted 4-1 to cease all discussions on the possibility of data center construction in the community, citing concerns about water and electricity use, noise, and pollution. This decision follows an earlier stalled plan to annex a 100-acre site for data center developers. Separately, the Tazewell County Board resolved to slow the data center approval process until new regulatory ordinances are adopted.
The Delavan City Council in Illinois has decisively rejected the prospect of data center development within its community, with a 4-1 vote to terminate all ongoing discussions. Councilperson Linda Slabaugh was the lone vote in favor, advocating for hearing proposals from what she described as some of the nation's wealthiest companies. The council's decision was influenced by prevalent concerns regarding data centers' high consumption of water and electricity, potential noise pollution, and broader environmental impacts.
Earlier this year, a specific plan involving the annexation of a 100-acre site into Delavan, intended for sale to data center developers, was discussed but ultimately did not progress. This local action in Delavan reflects a growing sentiment across the United States where numerous communities are pushing back against data center projects.
Adding to the regional context, the Tazewell County Board, encompassing Delavan, recently passed a resolution to implement a slower approval process for data centers throughout the county. This resolution directs the county’s zoning department to halt the acceptance of new development petitions from data center developers until the board formally establishes and adopts a comprehensive ordinance to regulate such projects.