McLean County leaders see need for data center regulations

Bloomington residents recently participated in a city-led public forum to voice their concerns regarding potential data center developments. Following these discussions, some leaders on the McLean County Board and Bloomington City Council have expressed strong opinions, ranging from outright opposition to the necessity of establishing clear regulatory policies before any projects proceed. Ward 9 City Council member Abby Scott formally requested a moratorium on data center approvals from Bloomington Mayor Dan Brady. In her letter, Scott emphasized the community's anxiety about decisions moving forward without sufficient public input and called for a pause to develop essential guidelines for water and energy usage, as well as protections against excessive sound and light pollution. Separately, Lea Cline, Chair of the McLean County Board’s Land Use and Transportation Committee, announced proposed revisions to the county’s zoning code for data center development. These revisions aim to strengthen county oversight in critical areas, including groundwater use and Mahomet Aquifer protection, electrical demand, wastewater management, backup power, and decommissioning requirements. The proposed changes were unanimously approved by the Land Use and Transportation Committee and are slated for review by the Zoning Board of Appeals on June 2, followed by a vote at the McLean County Board on June 11. Council members Jenna Kearns and Cody Hendricks have also voiced their stances, with Kearns supporting Scott's proposed moratorium and Hendricks stating his opposition to data centers. City spokesperson Katherine Murphy confirmed that city staff are compiling feedback from the forums and emails to present recommendations to the city council soon.