08/27/2026
DATA CENTERS IN DECATUR: RESIDENTS SHOULD DECIDE
One of the most frequent topics of conversations that I have been having with Decatur residents is whether to allow a hyperscale data center in the city. In my view, whether to permit a data center should be determined by referendum on the April 6, 2027 municipal election ballot. This will put the decision in the hands of the residents. It will also provide advocates and opponents of data centers more than eight months to make their case. Decatur residents should decide the fate of data centers in the city for the impacts of a data center will be felt city wide. There are two pathways for a referendum to be placed on the ballot. Members of the public can submit a petition by January 4, 2027 or the city council can pass a resolution by January 19 as described in Article 28 of the Illinois Election Code (10 ILCS 5/28).
In the meantime, I will continue to advocate for developing guidelines for data centers in the event there is support for one being built in the city. It is important for the city to take proactive action that addresses the concerns about data centers and establishing guidelines is good governance. Residents should not face higher electricity bills as a result of data centers. Decatur residents living near a data center should not be subjected to their constant noise, and appropriate setbacks need to be in place. There also needs to be a decommissioning plan for a data center. In regards to water, while some data centers are now closed loop systems that need limited amounts of water, some large data centers may require 5 million gallons per day, water that the city currently does not have the ability to provide in times of extreme drought. Thus, whatever the economic benefits data centers might have for Decatur, those benefits are reduced if the city has to upgrade infrastructure to accommodate the development and residents in turn pay higher water bills. Furthermore, whatever property tax reductions the building of a data center will provide, it must be offset by lowering the electricity costs, which are rising substantially in part due to the energy demand of data centers.
There have and will continue to be multiple forums on data centers in the city. On July 29, Soy City Indivisible with the assistance of Citizens Utility Board, Illinois People’s Action, and Prairie Rivers Network hosted a discussion “Let’s Talk Data Centers.” On Monday, August 31 at 5:00 PM at the Decatur Civic Center Theatre, a group referred to as Citizens Voluntary Advisory Committee on Data Centers will be giving a presentation that is open to the public. These forums are important ways for residents to learn more about data centers and formulate their opinions as to whether the city should have one.
Residents are right to be concerned that the City of Decatur has and continues to be engaged in private conversations about data centers and that a data center proposal could be forthcoming. As reported on January 13, 2026 by the Decatur Tribune, the “2500 North Commerce Park in Decatur has been selected to participate in the Accelerated Site Assessment Program (ASAP) in cooperation with Ameren, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and Decatur EDA …The 138-acre campus is fully approved and earmarked to support up to 274 megawatts and over 800,000 SF of space devoted exclusively for data center development offering a rare, power-ready opportunity for energy-intensive operations seeking scalability and speed to market.”
At least two thirds of the residents I have spoken to are opposed to having a large-scale data center in Decatur. I too share many of their concerns. A referendum is an avenue for the voice of Decatur residents to be heard.
What do you think? Should there be a referendum on whether to allow hyperscale data centers in Decatur?