By Angeles Ponpa
TAZEWELL & WOODFORD COUNTIES (25 News) – Data centers were part of the conversation in two Central Illinois counties this week, as officials in Tazewell and Woodford counties considered how to regulate the developments.
In Tazewell County, a second round of discussions on a data center ordinance took place during the county’s scheduled Land Use Committee meeting.
One new topic discussed was the possibility of a moratorium, although opinions among board members varied.
Tazewell County residents have expressed concern that while an ordinance is being developed, the county could be vulnerable to data center proposals.
Eric Stahl, a Tazewell County Board member representing District 2, is among the members who recommended considering a moratorium. He said it could help address residents’ concerns while county officials develop regulations amid support for data center development at the state and federal levels.
“The state’s attorney assured us that while we’re working on this ordinance, that a data center can’t be built, because it’s not explicitly listed on our zoning code,” Stahl said.
“But to residents of Tazewell County, that’s a little vague. … It leaves a lot of worry in people’s hearts about this, so a moratorium is where I was leaning at toward Tuesday night. I really want to see just a three-month, a six-month, so everybody in the county knows nothing is going to happen.”
Although Tazewell County does not have a moratorium in name, the County Board took action earlier this year to prevent data center proposals from moving forward while regulations are developed. The board amended its zoning code to prohibit land uses that are not explicitly allowed and directed the county’s zoning department not to accept petitions from developers for data center projects until the board finishes drafting an ordinance.
Still, residents have continued voicing concerns about data centers to board members.
“Everything that has been brought to us has been negative,” Stahl said.
“Obviously, social media, we get blown up there, but then when people come to the meetings, they’re anti-data center as well. So, the feedback has been pretty negative, and we take that into consideration [of] who shows up to the meetings.”
Stahl said adopting a formal moratorium would make the county’s position more clear-cut for residents.
Tazewell County’s proposed data center ordinance still has several steps before it can be adopted. The proposal would need to go before the county’s Zoning Board of Appeals for a public hearing before ultimately going to the County Board for a vote.
In Woodford County, after weeks of discussion, the County Board approved a six-month moratorium on data center applications, with an option for a six-month extension.
The initial moratorium would run through February 2027 while the county holds public hearings and develops a data center ordinance.
Blake Parsons, a District 3 Woodford County Board member, was among the original proponents of discussing data center regulations. He said the county should approach the issue diligently, as it has with other large developments, including wind and solar projects. Parsons also supported the six-month moratorium.
“However, I want to make sure that we have a comprehensive, balanced conversation on data centers to be sure that we are considering the long-term implications that this infrastructure presents on land use, economic impact and stimulus these projects can generate for our region, as well as the growing need for the ongoing development of artificial intelligence and quantum computing,” Parsons said in a statement to 25 News.
Parsons described data center development as the “space race of today,” with the United States playing a leading role. While he said he is not opposed to data centers, he wants to ensure Woodford County creates transparent regulations for potential developments.
“I am not a proponent of prohibition, to be perfectly clear. We need to handle these applications when and if they come on a case-by-case basis with plenty of early community engagement. What this amounts to is the largest infrastructure mobilization in our modern era since the Eisenhower interstate highway system. Truth, facts and transparency wins the day. We want to avoid any influence from misinformation,” Parsons’ statement continued.
No future dates for discussions on a Woodford County data center ordinance have been announced.
Comments