Crowd reacts to Christian County data center plan
Eagle Rock Partners faces strong opposition for its proposed $6 billion Meridian Technology Park data center in rural Bear Creek Township, Christian County, Illinois. While the company highlights potential economic benefits like jobs and property taxes, residents are concerned about noise, traffic, and environmental impact. A formal land-use request has not yet been submitted, and the project's power source from a proposed gas plant remains uncertain.
Eagle Rock Partners is proposing a $6 billion Meridian Technology Park data center in Christian County, Illinois, near Taylorville, which is facing significant local opposition. Ken Loeber, a founder of the North Carolina-based development company, presented the project to the Christian County Board, highlighting its potential to create 500 full-time jobs and generate $85 million annually in new property taxes, though a county official estimates a lower figure of $22 million.
The proposed data center, located on a 475-acre site in rural Bear Creek Township, would consist of 10 75-foot-tall buildings constructed over five to seven years, requiring between 1,000 and 1,100 megawatts of electricity. Residents attending the meeting, including Maureen Tarrant and farmer Caleb May, expressed concerns about potential noise (despite Loeber's assertion of 55 decibels at the property line), increased traffic, disruption to the rural environment, and the impact on local water wells. Loeber indicated Eagle Rock would consider compensating nearby residents for inconveniences and has commissioned a study on water well impacts.
A formal land-use request has not yet been submitted, and Christian County Board Chairperson Bryan Sharp stated that a decision would be months away, potentially taking over a year, as county officials plan to consult outside experts. A significant hurdle for the project is securing power from the proposed Lincoln Land Energy Center, a natural gas-fired plant in Sangamon County, whose construction has not yet begun. The article also references other data center projects in the region, noting CyrusOne's approved project in Sangamon County and Hut 8 Corp.'s project in Logan County, which has been stalled by a one-year moratorium.