DATA CENTER MORATORIUM PROPOSED

Champaign County leaders are debating a proposed one-year moratorium on large data center developments. The move comes as local officials look to draft new zoning rules to keep pace with the growing interest in sizable tech facilities. Planning and Zoning Director John Hall highlighted a recent proposal for a data center covering roughly 300 acres west of Champaign—much larger than anything the county has seen before. Concerns center on the significant water draw from the Mahomet Aquifer and the heavy energy demands such projects require. The decision aims to give the county time to consider the impact and create responsible guidelines.