McLean County Board to consider zoning changes related to potential AI data centers

The McLean County Board is considering zoning changes to address potential AI data center development. The proposed amendment aims to provide the county with oversight over the siting and impacts of data centers, while remaining flexible to accommodate the industry's rapid evolution. Key points include: - The amendment would only allow data centers in manufacturing districts, not agricultural areas, to preserve farmland. - It requires detailed documentation from applicants on water use, cooling systems, power demand, and other impacts to enable the county to evaluate each proposal. - The county is supporting state-level legislation on data center regulation, infrastructure, and related issues, and may revisit the local amendment once that process plays out. - Primary concerns from residents focus on the environmental impact, particularly water usage, of large-scale "AI farm" data centers.