Sangamon County Board still considering data center proposal

The Sangamon County Board recently voted to table a $500 million data center proposal by CyrusOne, delaying a decision on the zoning resolution. The next Board meeting, scheduled for April 7, has been relocated to the BOS Center to accommodate an expected large public turnout, underscoring significant community interest and potential opposition. It remains uncertain if a Board member will call the tabled resolution forward for a vote. This development in Sangamon County occurs as the city of Aurora, located northeast of Springfield, enacted some of the nation's most stringent restrictions on new data center developments. Aurora, home to five operational and five in-development data centers, two of which are owned by CyrusOne, implemented these regulations following years of citizen complaints about issues like noise and lighting. The new rules in Aurora include specific limitations on generator testing hours for existing data centers. The Sangamon County proposal notably includes plans for 420 diesel-powered backup generators.