The Sangamon County Board tables a vote on a massive data center

The Sangamon County Board in Illinois postponed a decision on a conditional use zoning permit for a proposed $500 million CyrusOne data center, opting to table the request with a 15-13 vote. The project, slated for Talkington Township southwest of Springfield, near Waverly, aims to be the first major data center in central Illinois. The board meeting, held at the BOS Center in Springfield to accommodate a large crowd, extended for nearly four hours as residents voiced concerns. Speakers like Thomas Davis advocated for a delay and a potential moratorium, citing "unanswered questions" and emphasizing that the board's Monday meeting was a "self-imposed deadline." Objections included potential pollution, the conversion of farmland, and the strain on local resources such as electricity, which some fear could raise rates. While water usage was a concern, CyrusOne officials, including Bradd Hout, stated a closed-loop cooling system would minimize water needs. The project promises about 100 permanent jobs and significant property tax revenue for local governmental bodies, including the North Mac, Auburn, and Ball-Chatham school districts. CyrusOne, a Dallas-based developer, has not requested tax abatements. However, resident Jim Applegate expressed skepticism about the tax revenue, noting that "massive, for-profit companies" often use depreciation to increase profits. The facility would span approximately 280 acres of farmland adjacent to the Double Black Diamond Solar Farm, built in phases over 4-6 years. Bradd Hout also addressed past complaints about noise from CyrusOne's Aurora data center, assuring that a remediation project is underway there and that the Sangamon County site has no residences within a half-mile. The article also notes that other local entities are taking similar cautious approaches, with the Logan County Board recently enacting a 60-day moratorium on data center applications and Pekin rejecting a proposed project this month. The Sangamon County Board's next meeting is scheduled for next month, with the timing of a new vote unclear.