City of Bloomington releases proposed data center regulations

The City of Bloomington released proposed data center regulations designed to protect neighborhoods, infrastructure and natural resources while establishing clear standards for potential development.

This news comes as the city’s current data center moratorium expires at the end of November. 

“One of the reasons that we are going through this process is to make sure that we do have those best practices on our books and and we’re ready should a data center, a large hyperscale data center want to locate here, then we have protections for this community,” Bloomington City Manager Jeff Jurgens said.

The proposal follows months of community engagement, public forums and research into regulations adopted by other Illinois communities.

Residents provided input during a public hearing before the Bloomington Planning Commission on Friday and Bloomington is hosting another public hearing on Nov. 16  at 4 p.m. at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts.

Jurgens said feedback will be critical during public hearings about the regulations.

These new provisions do not automatically approve hyperscale data center development, but rather each proposal will be looked at by City Council and will require approval and a special use permit.

“This will be a couple month process as we go through this and then we’ll see where we are, and we’ll see what the council wants to do with it,” Jurgens said.

Some of the provisions include a minimum 1,000 ft separation between data centers and residential areas, strict limits on noise and vibration,  restrictions on water consumption, energy efficiency standards and limitations on generator operations.

“There are certainly concerns, and so it’s just gonna be a question as to whether or not the regulations can mitigate the concerns,” Jurgens said.

More information can be found on the city’s Data Center Information Hub.