Champaign County Advances Data Center Ordinance After Mahomet Ends Talks
The Champaign County Board is drafting an ordinance to impose restrictions on future data center development, with review by the county’s Environment and Land Use Committee expected after the current moratorium ends in April. Separately, the Charleston City Council unanimously approved a temporary ban on new data centers and battery storage facilities.
The Champaign County Board is moving forward with a data center ordinance after talks in Mahomet ended. Board officials said the county cannot prevent incorporated communities from negotiating independently with hyperscale data center developers, but they consider countywide restrictions a top priority and want the ordinance ready before the existing moratorium is lifted in April.
The proposed rules will be reviewed by the Environment and Land Use Committee. Officials also suggested that statewide zoning standards could provide an additional layer of protection for the county. In Charleston, the City Council separately voted 5-0 to approve a temporary moratorium on new data center development and battery storage facilities.