Crowd Packs Hearing on Proposed CyrusOne Data Center

A large crowd packed the room Wednesday, Dec. 3, as the Sangamon County Board held a public hearing on the proposed CyrusOne data center in Talkington Township. The turnout reflected high public interest, and a majority of those in attendance appeared to favor the project as the Board began an evening of presentations and testimony.

CyrusOne opened the hearing with a presentation outlining the proposed buildout and addressing concerns about noise, lighting, and environmental effects. Company officials described plans for six buildings across 280 acres and said the site was chosen because the existing electric grid has transmission capacity available for the project. They also noted that the cooling system would use a sealed and closed loop design that requires minimal daily water use.

The Coalition for Springfield’s Utility Future followed with a detailed case against the project. Representatives raised concerns about long term utility impacts, pointing out that only the first 300 megawatts of the proposed 600 megawatts have undergone formal review. They also highlighted issues associated with diesel backup generators and cited examples from other communities where large numbers of generators require routine testing. Their presentation included additional concerns about air quality, light pollution, and topsoil disturbance. The coalition noted that several communities in Georgia, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and the Midwest have delayed or reconsidered large data center projects in recent years. They concluded by asking the County Board to pause the process for 90 days before moving forward with any zoning approvals.

Sangamon County staff and subject matter experts delivered the final presentation of the evening. Their remarks focused on the legal, procedural, and technical framework surrounding the proposal, including zoning requirements, the limits of the county’s review authority, and the factual considerations tied to the project. Staff also addressed agricultural impacts, explaining that the project footprint represents a very small portion of county farmland. Their presentation emphasized that several assessments and regulatory reviews remain underway and that no determination has been made.

Among the experts presenting was consultant Mark Pruitt of The Power Bureau, a firm that evaluates electric system reliability and market operations. Pruitt, who previously held statewide energy oversight roles and now advises communities on grid capacity and cost impacts, provided an independent assessment of how the proposed data center would interact with the regional electric system. He told the Board that the facility would operate on a separate local service and transmission network and that any complications with its service would not affect other customers. He also noted that the regional grid operator, MISO, has sufficient generating capacity and has confirmed it can accommodate the additional 600 megawatts associated with the project. According to Pruitt, all delivery and capacity costs would be borne by the data center developer rather than residential electric customers.

Public comment closed the hearing, with residents voicing both strong support and firm opposition. Supporters pointed to economic benefits, including job opportunities and the possibility that new technology positions could help retain local workers. One woman said she hopes the project will allow her children, who are beginning careers in information technology, to remain in Sangamon County instead of relocating. Opponents raised concerns about environmental impacts and broader questions about artificial intelligence. One woman described forming a romantic relationship with an AI program that led her to leave her husband and children, offering her experience as a warning about what she views as the risks associated with AI.

No vote was taken Wednesday, and the County Board will continue its review in the months ahead.