Logan County takes its time on data center proposal

The Logan County Board recently enacted a 60-day moratorium on new data center applications, a decision driven by public opposition and ongoing questions surrounding a proposed $5 billion, 500-megawatt data center by Miami-based Hut 8 Corp. in Laenna Township near Latham. Logan County Board member Michael DeRoss highlighted the need for more time to conduct a thorough cost-benefit analysis before committing to the project, which Hut 8 claims would generate 200 permanent jobs and significant tax revenue. Simultaneously, in neighboring Sangamon County, Dallas-based CyrusOne is pursuing approval for a 634-megawatt data center southwest of Springfield in Talkington Township. The Sangamon County Zoning Board of Appeals has already recommended a conditional-use permit for CyrusOne's $500 million project. However, a proposed six-month moratorium on data center zoning decisions, introduced by County Board member Marc Ayers, failed in a committee vote but is slated for a vote by the full Sangamon County Board on March 23. County Board members like Reggie Guyton expressed concerns about lacking sufficient information to make informed decisions regarding these large-scale developments. Both Hut 8 and CyrusOne officials have defended their economic projections, though Logan County Supervisor of Assessments Jennifer Bryant indicated she still needs more information to verify Hut 8's estimates, which are significantly higher than CyrusOne's despite similar project sizes. Hut 8 spokesperson Gautier Lemyze-Young affirmed the company's commitment to collaborating with local stakeholders for the Logan County project.