Morgan County votes for data center restrictions
Morgan County voters overwhelmingly supported nonbinding ballot restrictions on the construction and operation of data centers. The Morgan County Commission has extended its existing data center moratorium for six months and is considering whether to adopt further restrictions after reviewing the election results and anticipated state guidance.
More than 8,000 Morgan County voters supported an advisory ballot question calling for restrictions on data center construction and operations. The question was placed on the ballot after activists gathered hundreds of signatures, but it is nonbinding and does not require the county to take action.
The Morgan County Commission extended its data center moratorium for another six months in October. Commissioners Donny "Racer" Wood, Mike Wankel and Michael Woods indicated that the county would use the election results and forthcoming Illinois legislative guidance to determine whether additional restrictions should be implemented, while acknowledging criticism that the ballot question was vague.