City of Aurora to discuss and take potential vote on new data center regulations

The Aurora City Council in Illinois is poised to discuss and potentially vote on a set of new regulations concerning data centers. This move follows significant public backlash against the rapid development of data centers in the western suburbs and coincides with the expiration of a 180-day temporary moratorium on new facilities. Residents living near the CyrusOne Data Center on Diehl Road have voiced severe complaints, with Laura Evans stating the noise is a constant hum audible even indoors, and Brian Castro reporting decibel levels peaking at 63 in his backyard. Castro also noted cracks forming in his drywall, attributing them to vibrations from the facility's generators, which he described as feeling like an earthquake. Residents are demanding stricter guidelines, particularly concerning proximity to residential areas and noise levels. Alison Lindburg, the City of Aurora's Director of Sustainability, indicated that the proposed regulations are designed to safeguard residents and the environment, ensuring long-term sustainability. These measures would establish a definition for data centers, mandate conditional use requiring public meetings and City Council approval, and set limits on noise, vibrations, water, and energy emissions. New facilities would also need to comply with biometric data privacy safeguards and grid reliability requirements. If the proposed regulations do not pass, the city may opt to extend the moratorium by 30 days to allow for further deliberation. The goal is to ensure that any new data centers in Aurora are