Bloomington City Council members signal support for 6-month data center moratorium
Bloomington City Council members have signaled support for a six-month moratorium on data centers, citing concerns over water, energy, and other community impacts. City staff have been directed to prepare an ordinance for a future meeting. Public opposition was strong, with all speakers against data center development.
Bloomington, IL City Council members expressed unanimous support for a six-month moratorium on data center development during a Committee of the Whole meeting. This decision, though not a vote, directed city staff to prepare a moratorium ordinance for an upcoming May 26 meeting. The move comes amidst significant public opposition and concerns over the potential impacts of "hyperscale" data centers on the community's water and energy resources.
Around 30 members of the public attended the meeting, with 14 speaking against data centers and 15 submitting emailed comments, all advocating for a moratorium. Council members, including Cody Hendricks, Michael Mosley, Michael Straza, and Sheila Montney, echoed these concerns, emphasizing the need for expert education on the technical implications and infrastructure protections required. Specifically, Council member Straza highlighted worries about water needs, referencing a recent drought that strained the city's supply, while Montney expressed strong disapproval for large-scale data centers. Similar discussions are also underway at the Normal Town Council and the county government level regarding data center regulations.