data center

The City of Bloomington and Central Illinois Regional Airport [CIRA] have both said there are no redevelopment plans at the location rumored to become a data center in southeast Bloomington.

The roundtable discussion was held at the McLean County Museum of History in Bloomington. The discussion advanced the governor’s Building Up Illinois Developments [BUILD] initiative.

Ten of the 11 people who spoke during the public comments portion of Monday’s Bloomington City Council meeting voiced opposition to a perceived possibility of a data center development south of Central Illinois Regional Airport.

Several local governments in Central Illinois are looking to create their own data center regulations as lawmakers have yet to take action regulating this emerging industry. Data centers are seen as key to fueling an AI revolution. Critics worry they could drain water and electricity supplies that are needed to power them.

McLean County Board Chair Elizabeth Johnston said she disagrees, in part, with Twin City mayors Dan Brady and Chris Koos who have criticized the performance of the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council. Johnston said she thinks the EDC has delivered a lot of bang for the buck.

Pekin will no longer consider having a data center built in the community. Mayor Mary Burress made the announcement Monday in a statement she read at a city council meeting.

The debate over how to regulate data centers in Illinois is intensifying as lawmakers struggle to balance costs to consumers and the state’s need to be competitive economically.