Survey indicates rural residents concerned about data centers' impact; Illinois faces specific challenges
A new survey indicates rural residents are highly concerned about data centers' impact on electricity costs, water usage, and farmland. This article highlights specific examples in Illinois, where communities face proposed moratoriums, legislative efforts for water efficiency, and ongoing opposition due to noise pollution from existing data centers.
A survey conducted by researchers at the University of Illinois and Purdue University reveals that rural Americans express greater concern than their urban and suburban counterparts regarding the implications of data center development. The February survey of 1,000 U.S. adults found the highest levels of worry related to rising electricity costs, the conversion of agricultural land for data centers, and excessive water usage.
The article notes a significant shift in data center construction, with 67% of planned facilities now slated for rural communities, a stark contrast to the nearly 90% of existing centers located in urban areas. This trend, coupled with projected energy requirement increases (doubling in Illinois and tripling in several other Midwest states by 2030), intensifies local concerns.
Illinois serves as a key example where these issues are actively being addressed. State Sen. Rachel Ventura (D-Joliet) advocates for the stalled POWER Act, which aims to mandate water-efficient cooling systems for data centers amid resident concerns about rising water rates. In East Central Illinois, community opposition has focused on protecting the Mahomet Aquifer, with calls for a data center moratorium. The Macon County Board is also considering a data center ordinance and a potential moratorium.
Further demonstrating local impacts, residents in Aurora have reported persistent noise disturbances from a CyrusOne data center for years, describing a "low hum" that affects daily life despite the company's mitigation efforts. Additionally, a Meta data center in DeKalb has raised concerns due to its water agreement with the city, which some fear could prioritize the facility's needs over residents' access to water.