What's in Bloomington's draft data center regulations
Bloomington has released draft regulations governing future data center projects, including zoning limits, setbacks, noise standards, energy and water reporting, clean-energy requirements, and decommissioning obligations. The Planning Commission will hold public hearings before the City Council considers the rules ahead of the city’s six-month data center moratorium expiration.
The City of Bloomington released draft data center regulations that divide facilities into accessory, small-scale commercial and hyperscale categories. Hyperscale projects would require a special use permit, could be located only in limited manufacturing districts, and would need to meet setbacks from homes, schools, hospitals and daycares.
The proposed code includes requirements for third-party studies of noise, vibration, water use, wastewater, energy consumption and grid impacts. It would also require community benefit agreements, annual compliance reports, emergency and decommissioning plans, restrictions on generators and cooling equipment, limits on potable water use, and energy storage or clean-energy investments.
The regulations will be discussed at Planning Commission hearings on Oct. 16 and Nov. 16, after which the commission will make a recommendation to the City Council. The council is expected to vote Nov. 23, shortly before the city’s six-month moratorium on data center development is scheduled to expire.