CyrusOne speaks out as county data center vote looms

The Sangamon County Board is poised for a crucial vote on a major data center project proposed by CyrusOne, after tabling the decision in late March. The development, planned for Sangamon County, Illinois, has sparked considerable community resistance, with a vote potentially happening as soon as Tuesday night. Opponents, including the Coalition for Springfield's Utility Future, have voiced significant concerns, urging the county board to further delay the vote. Their anxieties center on the data center's potential strain on the local electricity grid, its substantial water consumption, and recent research indicating that data centers can cause localized land warming, which could threaten nearby farmland. CyrusOne's director, Bradd Hout, responded by stating the facility would rely on MISO’s grid and that the company invests in renewable projects nationally, though he could not estimate the percentage of renewables for the Illinois site. The Rural Electric Convenience Cooperative (RECC) suggested minimal grid strain from this single facility. Regarding water, Hout explained that water would be bused in from the Apple Creek Water Cooperative and used in a closed-loop cooling system, estimating usage comparable to an office building. He also highlighted CyrusOne's investments in water restoration projects and commitments to LEED certification. Additionally, Hout emphasized the economic benefits, projecting 100 permanent jobs and $6 million in property tax revenue annually for 20 years, while promising no impacts on local utility rates. Despite these assurances, opponents remain skeptical, citing a perceived lack of information and ongoing legislative efforts like the POWER Act to regulate data centers. The project is scheduled for consideration in the next three county board meetings.