Waverly reviews water contract over data center concerns
Waverly city officials are reviewing their water contract with Apple Creek Water Cooperative due to concerns about potential resource strain from a new CyrusOne data center in Sangamon County. The city has hired outside counsel to protect its interests, as the cooperative, which receives water from Waverly, is expected to supply the data center. This comes after the Sangamon County Board approved the data center, which has faced significant local opposition.
Waverly city officials have engaged outside counsel, Brown, Hay & Stephens, to scrutinize their water contract with Apple Creek Water Cooperative. The review stems from concerns that the cooperative's potential supply of water to CyrusOne's planned $500 million, 600-megawatt data center in Sangamon County could strain Waverly's water resources. Mark Samaras, Waverly City Clerk, indicated that Apple Creek Water Cooperative sources its water from Waverly's system and distributes it to rural customers, meaning increased demand from the data center could impact the city.
The data center, slated for construction in Talkington Township, a few miles from Waverly in Sangamon County, received approval from the Sangamon County Board in April by a 17-10 vote. The project has generated considerable controversy, prompting protests and resident pushback across the region. Notably, in neighboring Morgan County, discussions around the project led to the implementation of a six-month moratorium on new data center proposals.
Supporters highlight the economic and job benefits, while opponents raise concerns about pollution, noise, and strain on the electric grid. The construction phase for the CyrusOne project is anticipated to last four to six years.