Mattoon City Council passes moratorium on data center development
The Mattoon City Council unanimously passed a year-long moratorium on large-scale data center development, citing public and official concerns over water usage and environmental impacts. The resolution, which automatically renews annually, was enacted despite no specific data center projects having been proposed to the city.
The Mattoon City Council in Illinois unanimously approved a year-long moratorium on large-scale data center development on September 1. The resolution, which passed with a 5-0 vote, is designed to automatically renew each year unless rescinded by a new resolution, which would require a prior public hearing. Mattoon Mayor Rick Hall and the Council noted that no specific companies had approached the city with proposals for data center construction.
During a public comment period preceding the vote, residents voiced significant concerns. Mattoon resident Bailey Sherrell expressed "extreme concerns" about the potential impact of generative AI data centers on local ecosystems, particularly the strain on local streams and water resources. Altamont resident Nicholas Tkachuk emphasized the importance of community advocacy against such developments, citing his own unsuccessful efforts to persuade the Effingham County Board to enact a similar moratorium due to its lack of zoning authority.
Mattoon Director of Community Development and Planning Alex Benishek explained that while he spent months drafting the resolution, Mattoon, as a non-home rule municipality, lacks the authority to outright ban data centers. He noted that zoning decisions involve extensive research. The resolution, however, prohibits the construction of data centers exceeding 21,780 square feet and prevents the city from accepting new applications during the moratorium period. The council and public alike highlighted the city's experience with a water crisis last year, making water usage a primary consideration in policy decisions.