McLean County proposes stricter guidelines for data centers while waiting for the state to act

McLean County, Illinois, is moving forward with proposed data center regulations that would be among the strictest in the state. Lea Cline, who chairs the county board's Land Use and Transportation Committee, drafted the rules, which were unanimously endorsed by her committee and are set for a county board vote next month. The proposed guidelines mandate that data center companies detail their electricity and water usage, outline plans to reduce impacts on electrical infrastructure, integrate renewable energy sources, and notify the county of any energy increases exceeding 20%. Furthermore, operators must demonstrate that their facilities will not adversely affect the local water supply, cover reasonable costs for infrastructure improvements, and provide a decommissioning plan. Cline initiated these rules due to concerns that state lawmakers in Springfield may not swiftly adopt comprehensive data center restrictions, despite ongoing discussions around the POWER Act, which addresses similar concerns about energy and water consumption. McLean County already restricts data centers to manufacturing areas via special use permits, prohibiting them from farmland. Although no data center companies have approached the county yet, Cline aims to establish standards reflecting community values rather than implementing a temporary moratorium, unlike Champaign County. The county will hold two public hearings on the proposed changes, at the Zoning Board of Appeals on June 2 and during the county board meeting on June 11, when the final vote is expected. The issue has garnered bipartisan support locally, with concerns about resource drain and potential nuisances. Cline expressed worries that financially struggling communities might be swayed by financial incentives from data center companies, potentially overlooking community values, a sentiment also echoed by Bloomington and Normal city officials who are developing their own guidelines.