Champaign County officials say they can’t ban data centers. But residents want tighter restrictions
Champaign County officials are considering a new ordinance to regulate large data centers following a temporary moratorium, despite residents' calls for an outright ban. Officials state they lack the legal authority to impose a full ban, fearing lawsuits from developers. Residents, however, are concerned the proposed ordinance does not offer sufficient protections for water usage, environmental impacts, and overall community well-being.
Champaign County, Illinois, is grappling with how to regulate hyperscale data centers, which are increasingly seeking locations with readily available power. Following a one-year moratorium on large data center construction enacted in April, the Champaign County Data Center Activities Task Force was formed to propose new regulations.
Task force members, including Emily Rodriguez, vice chair of the Champaign County Board, assert that the county lacks the legal authority for an outright ban on data centers and such a move could expose them to lawsuits from developers. Consequently, the task force has proposed an ordinance designed to safeguard the county's residents and natural resources.
However, during a public meeting on August 31, dozens of residents voiced concerns that the proposed ordinance is not stringent enough. Amanda Pankau of the Prairie Rivers Network criticized the ordinance's vague language regarding environmental protections, particularly a clause about mitigating wildlife impact to a "sustainable level of mortality." Other residents, like George Hardebeck and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign senior Gabriella DalSanto, argued that the current draft contains "gaping holes" that corporations could exploit, prioritizing profit over local well-being.
The proposed ordinance, which includes requirements for compliance with energy conservation codes and limits on data center size and location, still needs review by the Illinois EPA’s Environmental Land Use Control and approval from the Champaign Zoning Board of Appeals before the Champaign County Board can vote on it. The temporary moratorium is set to expire in mid-April 2027.