La Salle County Board considering rules for data centers

The La Salle County Board is actively considering new regulations for data centers looking to establish operations within the county. At a recent Committee of the Whole meeting, the committee decided to first vote on a comprehensive water survey and study at the next county board meeting before moving forward with any definitive decisions regarding data centers. Bryan Dose, a board member from Ottawa, strongly advocated for the water study, emphasizing the need to fully understand the county's water resources before approving any data center developments, particularly those involving AI. James Reid, a board member from Sandwich, expressed outright opposition to data centers in La Salle County, citing concerns about water and energy consumption, noise pollution, land commitment, and a perceived lack of economic advantage. Brian Gift, the director of the La Salle County Land Use Department, has drafted a specific ordinance for data centers, which is awaiting discussion. La Salle County Attorney Jeremiah Adams noted that upcoming state legislation, the POWER Act, could significantly influence the conditions the county would need to consider for its local ordinance, potentially acting as a de facto moratorium on new data center applications due to the extended application process. Currently, data centers require a special-use industrial permit. Gift also suggested that the existing power grid infrastructure provided by ComEd and Ameren might not be sufficient to support data centers in the county, potentially deterring developers and allowing the county time to establish clearer guidelines.