Deny Data Centers in Barrington Hills
Deny Data Centers in Barrington Hills
The Issue
Barrington Hills is cherished for its natural landscapes, peaceful surroundings, and most importantly, its pristine water sources that support both local wildlife and the community. Recently, news of a proposed data center in our beloved village has caused deep concern among residents. This massive project threatens to disrupt our environment, jeopardize our water resources, and violate our village codes.
Data centers are known to consume large amounts of water for cooling purposes. According to a report from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), data centers use millions of gallons of water annually, which can severely deplete local water tables. The environmental impact of such a facility could be devastating, endangering our water supply and affecting the delicate ecosystem on which many local species depend.
Issues that impact every resident:
Health Concerns
Air pollution is the most acute concern.
- Fossil-fueled power plants and diesel backup generators that power data centers emit hazardous pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter.
- This increases rates of respiratory diseases, cardiovascular conditions, and elevating cancer risk in nearby communities.
- By 2023, U.S. data centers could contribute to nearly 1300 deaths annually, resulting in a public health burden of more than $20 billion
Water quality.
- Data centers consume up to 57% of cooling water from potable sources, worsening water scarcity in stressed regions.
- A typical hyperscale data center can use 3–7 million gallons of water per day for cooling purposes. Such consumption exacerbates local water insecurity, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases, dehydration, and poor hygiene in affected communities
As stated in the Barrington Hills Village 2019 Comprehensive Plan, "Barrington Hills is solely dependent on groundwater to meet its water needs, generally accessed with a private well. Almost all of this water comes from the shallow aquifer system, which is comprised of saturated sand and gravel materials below ground and the bedrock aquifer they rest upon. In the Barrington Hills area, this aquifer system extends from the land surface down to about 250 feet below ground surface. Even if other sources of water were available, such as water from Lake Michigan or a deep aquifer (800+ feet deep, there is no infrastructure in place to distribute water to residents, businesses, and institutions and the cost of building such infrastructure would be astronomical."
Barrington Hills Village Policies
This data center would directly conflict with the village's policies and goals set by our board members.
- "The Village of Barrington Hills is a unique residential community characterized by
abundant open space and a long equestrian tradition. This vision reflects the past,
present and desired future for the Village. In order to retain this unique character
and to achieve this vision, the Village sets forth the following goals:- Protect scarce and critical natural resources, especially groundwater and heritage trees.
- Preserve the community character which provides personal freedoms consistent with a semi-rural countryside environment, including the preservation of open space, and scenic and wildlife corridors.
- Support the keeping of horses and agricultural activities as viable elements of the community, along with the preservation of the interwoven open space and equestrian trail system.
- Maintain limited municipal services supplemented by individual resident responsibilities.
- Protect property from transportation noise by limiting road capacity and arterial road penetration through the open countryside.
- Preserve the five-acre minimum single-family residential lot pattern."
Tax Impact
Data Center Investment Tax Exemptions & Credits to the builder vs Residental Tax Impact:
The developer has stated that this project could yield millions of dollars in tax revenue, potentially offsetting property taxes. However, because Illinois offers new data centers generous tax subsidies for the first 20 years of operation, it is not known when, if ever, the Village could see tax revenue which might mitigate local property taxes. There is no evidence as to when or how much anyone's property taxes could be reduced, and the developer has not pointed to any tax reductions in communities where it has built other data centers.
"During the presentation, the developer stated that, if a data center were ultimately built, the Village would experience a significant financial impact, including increased annual utility tax revenue in the millions for the Village and a reduction in residents’ property tax contributions. The developer estimated that the site’s property tax could increase from approximately $3,000 annually to as much as $20 million annually after reaching full operation. These figures were presented by the developer and have not been independently reviewed or verified by the Village." - Barrington Hills Village Website
Please join us on February 2nd to share our community's concerns with the Barrington Hills Village board at Countryside Elementary School at 6:30 PM!
Moreover, Barrington Hills has always been governed by strict village codes meant to preserve the integrity and rural character of our community. The construction of a data center is in direct violation of these codes which prioritize environmental conservation and sustainable development. These regulations were established to ensure that the unique charm and natural beauty of our village would remain intact for generations to come.
We cannot allow this proposal to compromise the very essence of what makes Barrington Hills a special place. Our community must come together to oppose this development and protect our environmental heritage. We need to urge the local authorities and decision-makers to reconsider and ultimately reject the plan to build this data center.
Join us in preserving the character and resources of Barrington Hills. Sign this petition to send a clear message that we value our environment and community standards over unchecked development and industrialization. Together, we can make a difference and safeguard our village for future generations.
Please join us on February 2nd to share our community's concerns at the Special Plan Commission Meeting at Countryside Elementary School at 6:30 PM!
Monday, February 2, 2026, at 6:30 p.m.
Countryside Elementary School
205 W. County Line Road
Barrington Hills, IL 60010
Data Centers affecting our Nation's communities:
- ‘A perfect, wild storm’: widely loathed datacenters see little US political opposition
- Wisconsin bill setting data center rules passes but faces opposition
- Trump seeks to quell rebellion over data centers
- Proposal for $3bn data center faces opposition in Spartanburg County, South Carolina
- Local Pushback, Canceled Data Centers Surged in 2025
1,575
The Issue
Barrington Hills is cherished for its natural landscapes, peaceful surroundings, and most importantly, its pristine water sources that support both local wildlife and the community. Recently, news of a proposed data center in our beloved village has caused deep concern among residents. This massive project threatens to disrupt our environment, jeopardize our water resources, and violate our village codes.
Data centers are known to consume large amounts of water for cooling purposes. According to a report from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), data centers use millions of gallons of water annually, which can severely deplete local water tables. The environmental impact of such a facility could be devastating, endangering our water supply and affecting the delicate ecosystem on which many local species depend.
Issues that impact every resident:
Health Concerns
Air pollution is the most acute concern.
- Fossil-fueled power plants and diesel backup generators that power data centers emit hazardous pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter.
- This increases rates of respiratory diseases, cardiovascular conditions, and elevating cancer risk in nearby communities.
- By 2023, U.S. data centers could contribute to nearly 1300 deaths annually, resulting in a public health burden of more than $20 billion
Water quality.
- Data centers consume up to 57% of cooling water from potable sources, worsening water scarcity in stressed regions.
- A typical hyperscale data center can use 3–7 million gallons of water per day for cooling purposes. Such consumption exacerbates local water insecurity, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases, dehydration, and poor hygiene in affected communities
As stated in the Barrington Hills Village 2019 Comprehensive Plan, "Barrington Hills is solely dependent on groundwater to meet its water needs, generally accessed with a private well. Almost all of this water comes from the shallow aquifer system, which is comprised of saturated sand and gravel materials below ground and the bedrock aquifer they rest upon. In the Barrington Hills area, this aquifer system extends from the land surface down to about 250 feet below ground surface. Even if other sources of water were available, such as water from Lake Michigan or a deep aquifer (800+ feet deep, there is no infrastructure in place to distribute water to residents, businesses, and institutions and the cost of building such infrastructure would be astronomical."
Barrington Hills Village Policies
This data center would directly conflict with the village's policies and goals set by our board members.
- "The Village of Barrington Hills is a unique residential community characterized by
abundant open space and a long equestrian tradition. This vision reflects the past,
present and desired future for the Village. In order to retain this unique character
and to achieve this vision, the Village sets forth the following goals:- Protect scarce and critical natural resources, especially groundwater and heritage trees.
- Preserve the community character which provides personal freedoms consistent with a semi-rural countryside environment, including the preservation of open space, and scenic and wildlife corridors.
- Support the keeping of horses and agricultural activities as viable elements of the community, along with the preservation of the interwoven open space and equestrian trail system.
- Maintain limited municipal services supplemented by individual resident responsibilities.
- Protect property from transportation noise by limiting road capacity and arterial road penetration through the open countryside.
- Preserve the five-acre minimum single-family residential lot pattern."
Tax Impact
Data Center Investment Tax Exemptions & Credits to the builder vs Residental Tax Impact:
The developer has stated that this project could yield millions of dollars in tax revenue, potentially offsetting property taxes. However, because Illinois offers new data centers generous tax subsidies for the first 20 years of operation, it is not known when, if ever, the Village could see tax revenue which might mitigate local property taxes. There is no evidence as to when or how much anyone's property taxes could be reduced, and the developer has not pointed to any tax reductions in communities where it has built other data centers.
"During the presentation, the developer stated that, if a data center were ultimately built, the Village would experience a significant financial impact, including increased annual utility tax revenue in the millions for the Village and a reduction in residents’ property tax contributions. The developer estimated that the site’s property tax could increase from approximately $3,000 annually to as much as $20 million annually after reaching full operation. These figures were presented by the developer and have not been independently reviewed or verified by the Village." - Barrington Hills Village Website
Please join us on February 2nd to share our community's concerns with the Barrington Hills Village board at Countryside Elementary School at 6:30 PM!
Moreover, Barrington Hills has always been governed by strict village codes meant to preserve the integrity and rural character of our community. The construction of a data center is in direct violation of these codes which prioritize environmental conservation and sustainable development. These regulations were established to ensure that the unique charm and natural beauty of our village would remain intact for generations to come.
We cannot allow this proposal to compromise the very essence of what makes Barrington Hills a special place. Our community must come together to oppose this development and protect our environmental heritage. We need to urge the local authorities and decision-makers to reconsider and ultimately reject the plan to build this data center.
Join us in preserving the character and resources of Barrington Hills. Sign this petition to send a clear message that we value our environment and community standards over unchecked development and industrialization. Together, we can make a difference and safeguard our village for future generations.
Please join us on February 2nd to share our community's concerns at the Special Plan Commission Meeting at Countryside Elementary School at 6:30 PM!
Monday, February 2, 2026, at 6:30 p.m.
Countryside Elementary School
205 W. County Line Road
Barrington Hills, IL 60010
Data Centers affecting our Nation's communities:
- ‘A perfect, wild storm’: widely loathed datacenters see little US political opposition
- Wisconsin bill setting data center rules passes but faces opposition
- Trump seeks to quell rebellion over data centers
- Proposal for $3bn data center faces opposition in Spartanburg County, South Carolina
- Local Pushback, Canceled Data Centers Surged in 2025
1,575
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Petition created on January 20, 2026