McHenry County mulls data center moratorium
McHenry County officials are considering a 12-month moratorium on data center applications and permits in unincorporated areas. The county Planning, Environment and Development Committee is expected to consider the proposal before a possible County Board vote in November, amid broader concerns about data centers’ water use, energy demand and community impacts.
McHenry County is weighing a proposed 12-month pause on the submission, review and approval of applications that would establish data centers in unincorporated areas. The proposal would cover zoning amendments, conditional-use permits, site-plan reviews, variances and building permits, while allowing the County Board to extend, repeal or modify the moratorium.
The county’s Planning, Environment and Development Committee is scheduled to discuss the measure before a possible vote by the full County Board in November. Board member Joe Gottemoller, R-Crystal Lake, said the county should address data centers in its ordinances as development is expected to arrive. The debate follows controversy over data centers’ effects on electricity prices, water supplies, power reliability and local transparency.
The proposal follows neighboring Lake County’s eight-month moratorium on data centers in unincorporated areas. It also comes as Illinois considers broader data center policy after lawmakers did not pass regulations during the spring session and Gov. JB Pritzker paused the state’s data center tax incentive program.