Bloomington’s pause on giant data centers runs out at the end of November. On Nov. 23, the Bloomington City Council is expected to vote on new rules that would let these facilities in rather than keep them out. Residents are asking the City Council and the Bloomington Planning Commission to choose a different path and permanently ban hyperscale data centers in the city.

The city’s draft rules describe a hyperscale data center as a site that covers 10 acres or more, or that generates 10 or more megawatts of power. Under the draft, one could be built on land zoned for general manufacturing with a special permit from the City Council, with buildings and major equipment as close as 1,000 feet from homes.

At a public hearing in October that lasted more than three hours, dozens of residents spoke up. Many said the draft rules are not strong enough, and many called for a full ban or a long-term pause to study the harm these projects can cause. Illinois People’s Action, a grassroots community and faith group, pointed out that the draft does not say who hires or pays the engineers who review a project’s water use, which could let companies pick their own experts. Speakers also raised concerns about water supply during droughts and about cooling water polluting neighbors downstream.

Rules can be weakened, waived or loosely enforced over time. A permanent ban gives Bloomington families certainty that their water, their neighborhoods and their tax dollars are protected for good. The Planning Commission will take public feedback again on Nov. 16, and the Council votes one week later.

Sign the petition to tell the Bloomington City Council to permanently ban hyperscale data centers before the moratorium ends this November.