Normal proposes 6-month extension to data center moratorium
The Town of Normal, Illinois, is proposing a six-month extension to its data center moratorium, pushing the ban on new permits through May 2027. This decision is influenced by potential state-level regulations from the POWER Act, which failed in the last legislative session but is being lobbied for. Neighboring Bloomington is also discussing its own moratorium as its current one is set to expire.
The Town of Normal, Illinois, is seeking to extend its existing data center moratorium by six months, proposing that the ban on accepting new data center permits continue through May 2027. The Normal town council is scheduled to vote on this extension. The proposed extension is partly a response to renewed interest in state-level data center regulations, particularly the POWER Act, which would impose requirements for data center companies to pay for their own renewable energy sources. This legislation, supported by clean energy advocates and critics of data center development, did not pass in the spring session but is being actively lobbied for in the fall veto session.
Neighboring Bloomington also has a data center moratorium set to expire in November. Mayor Dan Brady indicated that the Bloomington city council will discuss the possibility of a full-on moratorium against large-scale data centers, with significant public interest necessitating a larger venue for an upcoming policy discussion. The city is working to establish a clear policy for approving or denying future data center projects.