Freeport meeting highlights data center impacts
A community meeting in Freeport examined potential water, noise, air pollution and electricity impacts from data center development. Stephenson County approved a six-month moratorium on data center development while officials work on local regulations, and Illinois advocates are seeking statewide protections through the proposed Power Act.
Residents at a meeting in Freeport discussed the potential effects of expanding data center development, including pressure on local water supplies, noise, air pollution and higher utility costs. The discussion comes as Monarch Energy proposes a data center development near Friday Road in Rockford spanning about 1,300 acres.
Stephenson County leaders approved a six-month moratorium on data center development in August while they consider local regulations. Advocates also are urging Illinois lawmakers to pass the proposed Power Act, which would require water-use permits and seek to prevent data center infrastructure costs from being shifted to other electricity customers. The measure had not become law at the time of the report and could be revisited during the state’s November veto session.