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Board discusses data-center siting concerns and whether to consider a moratorium
Summary
Board members raised concerns about data-center impacts (water use, energy sourcing, environmental effects) and debated whether to consider a moratorium. Members cautioned that statewide preemption or past moratoriums slowed ordinance adoption elsewhere and recommended monitoring other counties.
Board members raised questions about data centers and whether Edgar County should consider a moratorium. One member urged caution, noting a state meeting in Springfield advising counties to be "very cautious about issuing a moratorium" because extended moratoriums in some places led the state to override local restrictions.
Discussion focused on potential water and energy impacts. A member noted some facilities discharge warm water into rivers (creating wildlife habitat elsewhere) and said newer data-center cooling systems can be continuous-loop and more like geothermal. Another board member said, "So theoretically, Edgar County could be very attractive because you've already got the Humana's power line," and discussed uncertainties around local water availability.
