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Residents warn council about transparency, health and infrastructure risks from proposed data centers
Summary
Three public commenters raised questions about potential data-center projects, warning of surprise sitings, large megawatt increases, and stresses on water, power and public health; speakers urged the city to coordinate with regional utilities and engage residents.
Multiple residents used public comment to press the council on potential data-center proposals and to warn that projects can move rapidly without broad public awareness.
Mike Fitzgerald reviewed reporting from other communities and said residents have been surprised by projects that advance with little transparency. He raised specific concerns about scale, telling the council that published examples showed expansions "from 50 to 400 and, 450" megawatts — "That's a 900% increase" — and asked what impacts larger electric and water demands and emissions would have on neighborhoods.
Tracy Henry, a long-time Bloomington resident, said she is worried about noise, environmental impacts and property values and urged council members to educate themselves before making decisions that affect residents. Dale Dirkholz, from rural McLean County, urged the city to coordinate regionally along high-voltage power corridors and to speak with utilities such as Ameren and ComEd, warning that some data centers are effectively "done deals" before the public is aware.
No staff presented a formal proposal or technical analysis at this meeting; councillors did not take formal action during public comment. Speakers urged follow-up outreach and clearer public notice when developers or utilities advance projects with large power or water demands.
