Evanston considers one-year data center moratorium
Evanston’s Land Use Commission is considering a zoning amendment that would impose a one-year moratorium on new data center approvals. The pause would allow city staff to study potential impacts and recommend longer-term regulations to the City Council.
Evanston’s Land Use Commission is preparing to consider a zoning text amendment establishing a one-year moratorium on new data center approvals. The proposed pause follows a September proposal for a small data center at 1265 Hartrey Ave. and would give city staff time to study the facilities’ impacts and regulations adopted elsewhere.
The proposal was referred by Ald. Krissie Harris and co-sponsored by Alds. Clare Kelly, Bobby Burns, Parielle Davis and Matt Rodgers. The commission’s vote would send the measure to the Evanston City Council, where nearly all members have indicated support. The proposal draws on Aurora’s approach, which ultimately established rules addressing data center water and energy use and noise emissions.