Data Center Debate Continues

Sangamon County officials have released a detailed staff report addressing questions related to the proposed CyrusOne data center as the project moves toward a potential vote by the County Board.

The report, prepared by the county’s Zoning and Planning staff, compiles responses to issues raised by residents and stakeholders during several months of public meetings and hearings. The proposed development would be located on approximately 280 acres in the southwest portion of the county and is planned as a multi-building campus totaling about 1.8 million square feet.

According to the report, county staff began examining data center-related zoning considerations in early 2024, with formal recommendations reviewed through a series of public meetings before being adopted in July 2025. The CyrusOne proposal was introduced later that year and has since been the subject of multiple hearings, including extended public comment sessions.

The document addresses topics including zoning authority, infrastructure, environmental considerations, and economic impact. Staff state that the proposed use can be considered compatible with agricultural zoning through a conditional use designation and note that the county’s role is limited to land use considerations under state law.

The report outlines projected economic impacts, including more than 100 full-time positions once the facility is operational and hundreds of temporary construction jobs during the buildout phase. It also includes an estimate from the county’s Supervisor of Assessments that the development could generate approximately $98 million in property tax revenue over 20 years, with funds distributed across local taxing districts.

In response to public concerns, the report provides information on noise, water usage, and electrical demand. County ordinance limits sound levels at the property line to 50 decibels, with expected sound levels decreasing at greater distances. The facility is expected to use a closed-loop cooling system and draw electricity from the existing regional grid, which has been reviewed by transmission operators and determined not to create reliability concerns.

County officials have directed residents to review the full staff report online at sangamonil.gov/proposed-cyrusone-data-center for additional detail and supporting information.

At the same time, the Springfield-Sangamon Growth Alliance has released a series of videos promoting the proposed project. The videos highlight potential economic benefits, including job creation, infrastructure investment, and long-term tax revenue, while featuring messaging focused on regional growth and workforce opportunities tied to the development. One of the advertisements includes statements from labor and union members expressing support for the project based on the construction jobs and workforce opportunities it would create.

The proposal was most recently considered by the Sangamon County Board during a March 23 meeting at the Bank of Springfield Center, which drew a large crowd and several hours of public comment. Following discussion, the board voted 15–13 to table the proposal after an earlier motion to table had initially failed.

The measure may come up for a vote at the County Board’s April 7 meeting at the Bank of Springfield Center.