Data Center

Normal City Manager Pam Reece said the town is working with Bloomington and McLean County to reduce the risk of accidents involving e-mobility devices, and is still monitoring possible data center regulations.

Community benefits agreements, or CBAs, are legal documents for the investment and enforcement of specific provisions between a data center developer and a community. In the latest in WGLT's ongoing series about data centers, some sources tout CBAs as a tool of trust — while others say they are empty promises.

Bloomington’s city council is mulling over two possibilities to bring housing to an under-utilized property off Main Street.

At least 42 people commented at Friday’s special hearing of the City of Bloomington planning commission that sought public input on potential data center regulations.

The City of Bloomington said it will not enact a new fine or fee structure related to data center regulations. Hyperscale projects require a special use permit, which can be revoked by the city.

The docks will be located at the Bloomington-Normal Water Reclamation Department's west lagoon at 1920 W. Washington St. and at the GE Valley Pump Station at 1 Tiehack Circle.

The regulations will be discussed at two Planning Commission public hearings on Oct. 16 and Nov. 16, at 4 p.m. on both days at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts.

Mayor Chris Koos says the town's decision to extend a six-month moratorium through next spring would help it prepare for any new state regulations that could come this fall.

City Manager Jeff Jurgens said the drafts will be available to the public on Oct. 9. The planning commission will meet at 4 p.m. on Oct. 16 at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts . Another meeting is planned for Nov. 16 at the same time.

A new study predicts data centers expected to be built in Illinois over the next decade would create thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in new property tax revenue.