While the City of Bloomington plans to release a draft of proposed data center regulations this week, the Town of Normal is keeping its moratorium in place until at least next spring and possibly longer.
Normal Mayor Chris Koos said the town's decision to extend a six-month moratorium through early 2027 would help it prepare for any new state regulations that could come this fall.
“We prefer not to pass ordinances to have them undone by a state ordinance, so we’ll wait and see what happens,” Koos said in an interview on WGLT’s Sound Ideas.
State lawmakers took no action during the spring session on the POWER Act, a comprehensive effort to regulate data centers, particularly regarding their water and energy use. The measure could get a fresh look during the veto session next month.
Koos said an apparent lack of interest from data center operators has also allowed to the town to take a more deliberate approach.
“We really don't have any interest that we are aware of. I’m sure there are people that are looking at every market for data centers, but right now we are not hearing of anything coming to Normal,” Koos said.
Bloomington’s Planning Commission will discuss its draft ordinance at a special meeting Oct. 16. Meanwhile, it’s not clear whether Normal will look to extend its moratorium beyond six months or even permanently.
“That’s something you’ll have to ask me in six months,” Koos said.
E-scooter regulations
A pedestrian was hospitalized following a crash with an e-scooter operator in Normal at about 6:30 a.m. Monday. It happened on a sidewalk at Vernon Avenue and Grandview Drive, according to Normal Police.
The pedestrian is expected to survive. Police are reviewing the case to consider citations against the e-scooter operator, who is listed at fault in the department’s crash report.
A new state law that takes effect in January aims to reduce crashes involving e-bikes by keeping them off sidewalks and regulating who can use them.
The City of Bloomington has started a discussion about putting speed limits in place for e-bikes and other micromobility devices along Constitution Trail.
Koos said the town does not plan to adopt stricter rules than the state.
“I don’t think we want to muddy the water on this right now,” Koos said. “That’s a pretty comprehensive set of laws the state has come up with.”
Koos said enforcement and education would be top priority and suggested schools should play a role in helping younger riders understand the new laws. He said many police departments would likely not have the resources to fully devote to enforcing the rules.
“That’s police manhours we may or may not be able to afford,” Koos said, adding the town will take a less punitive approach to enforcing the rules.
The mayor said Normal and Bloomington should “be on the same page” in setting and enforcing e-bike rules, but said he was not suggesting Bloomington stop looking into its own rules.
