Plainfield extends data center moratorium another 180 days
The Plainfield Village Board approved a second 180-day moratorium on data center applications, approvals and permits while officials develop regulations for the facilities. Officials cited limited power capacity, infrastructure demands and environmental concerns, while residents urged the village to proceed cautiously.
The Plainfield Village Board voted Oct. 5 to extend the village’s data center moratorium for another 180 days. The pause also covers warehouses primarily intended to house computing equipment and gives officials additional time to draft a Unified Development Ordinance addressing land use, power and infrastructure requirements.
Mayor John Argoudelis said Plainfield currently lacks sufficient power capacity and is not ready for data centers, although several developers have approached the village. Village Administrator Joshua Blakemore said the new rules are intended to ensure any future development is consistent with community priorities and available infrastructure.
The article also describes broader data center disputes in Chicago’s suburbs, including a lawsuit challenging Joliet’s approval of the $20 billion Joliet Technology Center. That case remains pending, while Plainfield resident George Kimball said he supports giving local leaders more time to evaluate the facilities’ potential impacts.