Carbondale council passes moratorium on potential data center development
The Carbondale City Council has passed a one-year moratorium on data center development within city limits. This decision was influenced by the rapid growth of data centers nationally, resident concerns, and the lack of state-level legislation. Residents spoke in favor of the precautionary measure.
The Carbondale City Council on June 23 enacted a one-year moratorium on potential data center development within city limits. The council's decision was prompted by the nationwide surge in data center construction, expressed concerns from residents, and the absence of comprehensive state legislation to regulate such facilities.
According to the council's agenda, this preemptive measure was taken after the Illinois General Assembly's POWER Act, a bill intended to regulate data center development, failed to pass during the spring legislative session and will not be reconsidered until October. Although no specific data center projects are currently proposed for Carbondale, other areas in southern Illinois, such as Grandtower, have seen discussions about redeveloping power plants into data centers. Three residents addressed the council in support of the moratorium, with one, Jane Cogie, cautioning against waiting due to how developers 'seem to be moving to avoid communities having benefits.'