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Aurora mayor defends local data-center ordinance and plans state-level push
Summary
Mayor John Lash said Aurora's ordinance sets renewable-energy and noise standards for data centers, citing 25% renewable energy and 50% battery storage requirements, and pledged to urge Springfield to adopt similar or stricter rules.
Mayor John Lash described Aurora’s data-center ordinance as a locally driven effort to limit noise and require on-site power contributions from large data centers.
"There's some data centers in Ward 10 that are unnecessarily loud, for residents," Lash said, explaining the ordinance includes a sustainability focus with requirements he summarized as 25% renewable energy and 50% battery storage. He also said the city considered continuous noise monitoring to reduce generator runtime.
Lash warned of broader grid implications if data-center buildout continues without stricter standards, saying, "ComEd has predicted that the energy grid will be susceptible to brownouts by 2029 if we continue to bring data centers online." He said Aurora’s ordinance aims to make data centers bring more of their own power and reduce strain on the regional PJM grid.
To extend the approach, Lash said he will travel to Springfield on May 30 to advocate for changes in state law and described a longer-term goal of requiring 100% renewable power for data centers at the state level.
The mayor credited staff and aldermen for tightening the noise provisions and described the ordinance as an example of local policy that could inform state action.
