Champaign County Board approves 1-year data center moratorium

The Champaign County Board voted to implement a 12-month moratorium on new large-scale data center developments, overriding an earlier committee decision for a nine-month pause. The board's reversal came after dozens of community members, including Andrew Rehn from the Prairie Rivers Network, advocated for the longer duration, citing concerns over the environmental impacts, water usage, and energy demands of data centers. Residents like sixth grader Samuel Tomory and Elizabeth Kirby voiced worries about the strain on local aquifers and the energy crisis. Proponents of the longer moratorium argued it would allow staff sufficient time to develop comprehensive zoning and permitting standards for unincorporated areas and to observe potential state-level legislation. Conversely, representatives from local unions, including Roofers Local 97 Business Manager Krissy Webber and Kevin Sage, President of the East Central Illinois Building and Construction Trades Council, advocated for the shorter nine-month period. They argued that nine months was sufficient to develop policies and that extending it further would not necessarily improve the outcome. Despite these arguments, the board sided with residents, enacting the 12-month ban. The county's data center task force, established in February, will continue its work on future guidelines during this period.