Sangamon County Debates Cyrus One Data Center
The Sangamon County Board hears sharply contrasting views on a proposed Cyrus One data center, with residents urging a data center moratorium over concerns about electricity rates, farmland loss, and long-term risks, while labor and economic development leaders and the company emphasize a $500 million investment, local jobs, training pipelines, and major new tax revenue. 18mins
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In This Video
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Lori Mckiernan criticized a proposed Cyrus One data center as harmful to local residents through higher electricity costs, uncertain tax benefits, loss of farmland, and limited quality jobs, and urged the board to adopt a 180-day moratorium and negotiate a community benefits agreement before approving the project.
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Union representative Aaron Guernsey supported the proposed Cyrus One data center as a rare $500 million investment that would create hundreds of construction and permanent jobs, generate significant tax revenue, strengthen local training pipelines, rely on a project labor agreement with local hires, and include efforts to ensure the workforce reflected Springfield and Sangamon County.
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Economic development leader Ryan Mccrady supported the Cyrus One data center by highlighting the region’s strong workforce and training institutions, projecting a major increase in property tax revenue and local jobs, and urging the board to approve the permit based on expected community benefits and a project labor agreement with local trades.
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