‘White noise on steroids’: Aurora City Council to vote on data center regulations as residents clamor for change

The Aurora City Council in Illinois recently voted to amend city ordinances to regulate existing data centers, particularly addressing residents' long-standing concerns about noise, water and energy consumption, and pollution. This move came after a period of intense public engagement and follows the expiration of a six-month temporary moratorium on data center development in the city. Key amendments include capping decibel levels for data centers at 56 during the day and 46 at night, a direct response to complaints from residents like Mary Castro and Richard Kersch. Castro, who lives near a massive CyrusOne data center on Diehl Road, described the constant operational noise from chillers and occasional generators as "white noise on steroids" that causes vibrations in her home. Residents also raised issues about the lack of a public engagement process in data center siting and the impact on utility bills, with one respondent to a public survey reporting a dramatic increase in their ComEd bill. The city is also considering further ordinances to create a coordinated framework for data center oversight, commission a water study, require on-site renewable energy, improve emission standards, and mandate City Council approval and public notice for new data centers. CyrusOne issued a statement acknowledging the concerns and detailing ongoing efforts to enhance their facilities with permanent sound walls and chiller attenuation work. While Joliet, a nearby Chicagoland city, recently approved plans for the state's largest data center, Aurora is tightening its regulations in response to its community's challenges with the burgeoning industry.