Morgan board, residents talk data center regulations during meeting

The Morgan County Board of Commissioners recently met with county residents to discuss the potential use of zoning regulations for data center developments. This meeting occurred just two weeks after the board approved a six-month moratorium on data centers, a measure intended to provide time for reviewing and establishing comprehensive guidelines for such projects. Board Chair Michael Wankel reported that updates to ordinances concerning commercial land energy conversion systems and solar energy facilities would be ready soon, with a separate ordinance for energy storage systems expected by October 1. While the county is still gathering feedback from its April 27 meeting, no new applications for commercial solar, wind, data storage, or energy storage projects have been submitted since the moratorium was enacted. During the meeting, Jacksonville business owner Colleen Flinn inquired about placing zoning regulations for data centers on a future election ballot. Wankel indicated that the county would consider this if sufficient interest from property owners emerged, though he noted no one had formally expressed support to the board. However, Flinn subsequently presented a petition bearing over 400 signatures, advocating for both the moratorium and new zoning regulations. She emphasized that such regulations would safeguard the county from "unwanted development" like data centers, ensuring that rural residents have a voice in the matter. Conversely, some rural residents, like John Clegg, expressed strong opposition to any potential zoning regulations, arguing that the county and city are already encroaching on rural landowners' rights. Commissioner Michael Woods also voiced concerns about granting a single landowner disproportionate power over the fate of other residents, citing a data center project in neighboring Sangamon County involving CyrusOne as an example. Wankel concluded by noting that, despite any requirements the county might implement, its current lack of comprehensive zoning and shifting state regulations limit its ability to outright deny a data center project.