Will County Board Member calls for moratorium on data centers; says county regulations needed
A Will County Board member has proposed an eight-month moratorium on data centers and new zoning regulations for projects in unincorporated Will County, Illinois. The proposal, driven by resident concerns over water, electricity, and noise, aims to establish specific county regulations where none currently exist. Additionally, Joliet Township is placing a referendum on the November ballot regarding data center approvals.
Will County Board Member Destinee Ortiz, representing Romeoville, has proposed an eight-month moratorium on data center construction within unincorporated areas of Will County, Illinois. Ortiz is also advocating for the creation of the county's first specific zoning regulations for data center projects, including a public hearing process to address resident concerns. This initiative follows a town hall meeting where residents raised issues regarding the potential impacts of data centers on water and electricity supply, infrastructure, stormwater, noise, and neighboring properties. Currently, Will County lacks specific regulations for data centers, and Ortiz noted there are no pending data center proposals in unincorporated areas, indicating a proactive approach to future development.
The proposal mirrors actions taken in nearby Lake County, which previously enacted a similar eight-month moratorium. The article also highlights related activity in Joliet. While a large 795-acre data center project in Joliet was controversially approved by the city council in March after developers sought annexation of land outside the city, Joliet Township has now placed a referendum on the November ballot asking voters if the Joliet City Council should approve data centers.