Sangamon County to vote on CyrusOne data center Monday

The Sangamon County Board is scheduled to vote Monday night at 6 PM on permits for a large-scale CyrusOne data center, a project that has generated significant controversy in central Illinois. The proposed data center, slated for an agricultural zone in the southwest portion of Sangamon County, is estimated to cost around $500 million and is touted to boost capital investment, create jobs, and improve local infrastructure. The critical vote will occur at the BOS center in downtown Springfield, attracting various stakeholders, including board members, union representatives, and residents both for and against the development. Opponents, including Sangamon County board member Marc Ayers (District 12), have primarily voiced concerns regarding the data center's substantial energy and water demands. Ayers specifically cited the project's estimated 600 megawatts of energy usage, questioning the strain it would impose on the MISO grid, despite assurances from MISO operators that the grid could sustain it. Ayers also raised issues about the lack of information on future tenants and data usage, advocating for more time to fully assess all associated risks given the considerable public opposition. Conversely, Ryan McCrady, president and CEO of the Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance, championed the project, expressing confidence in CyrusOne's collaboration with local utility officials and minimizing potential impacts on nearby areas, noting the site's distance of nearly two miles from the nearest residential dwelling. McCrady further underscored the financial advantages, stating that CyrusOne would cover its full property tax burden, contributing an estimated $6.5 million annually to local schools and emergency services without seeking any incentives. This vote marks Sangamon County's final opportunity to regulate the CyrusOne data center. While the county could introduce new zoning and land use regulations for future projects, Ayers clarified that these new rules would not apply to CyrusOne, and any further regulatory actions would need to originate at the state level.