Lincoln, IL (WAND) – The Logan County Zoning Board has voted to approve a 90-day moratorium on large data centers in the county. Some county residents are concerned that data centers could strain the power grid, water supply and farmland.
“Thirty to 50 years from now, the decisions they make are going to affect the young children and the young adults that are raising those children now and grandchildren,” resident Tonjia Ritchie said.
Many called for a year-long moratorium. However, the Zoning and Economic Development Chairman, Dale Nelson, said the county will lose the deal with Hut 8 if it waits too long, something he said they cannot afford.
“Right now, the county is not generating any tax revenue. If we’re not generating additional revenue, then we’ll have no choice in a couple of years to raise property taxes. We don’t have other developers coming,” Nelson said.
The proposed Hut 8 data center promises to invest $5 billion into Logan County, bringing $65 million in annual tax revenue and 200 permanent jobs. Some feel the deal sounds too good to be true.
“If HUT 8 is in that big of a hurry to push this through, then obviously, you know something’s not right,” Ritchie said.
Hut 8 said they have signed a commitment letter with enforceable actions, including a cap on water usage, environmental compliance under the law and the tax revenue. The county board will have to vote on the 90-day moratorium.
