The residents of Rockford are calling on the City Council and Mayor to enact a temporary moratorium on new data center development to allow for adequate community input, to update zoning, study the environmental impacts and fully understand the impact on local electric bills.

Across Illinois, communities are recognizing that data centers bring significant and often underexamined impacts. Rather than rushing into decisions that will shape Rockford’s future, we have the opportunity to learn from other Illinois communities that have taken a more deliberate approach.

Precedent in Illinois

• Aurora- enacted a 180-day moratorium on new data centers to study impacts and develop regulations addressing energy use, water consumption, noise, and zoning gaps. They conducted research, engaged residents, and ultimately adopted new zoning standards and environmental safeguards to protect the community. 
• Champaign County-approved a one-year moratorium and created a task force to evaluate permitting, environmental impacts, and long-term planning. 
• Fulton County- approved a one-year moratorium to research data center impacts and update zoning ordinances.

These communities are not anti-development, they are pro-planning, pro-transparency, and pro-community protection.

Data centers are not typical industrial developments. They:

• Have high energy demand, contributing to grid strain and rising electricity costs
• Use significant water resources, raising concerns about long-term sustainability
• Produce noise and vibration, impacting nearby neighborhoods and wildlife
• Are often zoned as warehouses, despite very different operational impacts
• Data centers that utilize diesel backup generators negatively impact human health

We respectfully call on the City of Rockford to:

• Enact a  12 month moratorium on approval of new data centers
• Establish a public task force made up of municipal leaders, technical experts, environmental experts and community stakeholders to study the impacts of data centers on the Rockford region
• Conduct independent analysis of:
  • Energy demand and grid impacts
  • Water usage and long-term sustainability
  • Noise, vibration, and quality-of-life effects
  • Fiscal impacts and public costs vs. benefits
• Update zoning and land use regulations to reflect the unique nature of data centers
• Outline the parameters of Community Benefit Agreements
• Develop a plan for public engagement that is implemented before approving any projects. Plan  includes multiple accessible town halls, a webpage with all public documents and meeting dates regarding data centers, and a clearly outlined process for how the public can provide input

Illinois is already seeing growing tension between economic development and resource constraints, particularly around energy demand and water use driven by data centers.

By taking a measured approach now, Rockford can:

• Protect residents and natural resources
• Provide clarity and certainty to developers
• Avoid costly mistakes and community conflict
• Position itself as a leader in responsible development

We urge the City of Rockford to follow the lead of other Illinois communities by pausing and engaging in thoughtful planning before proceeding.

Sign today to support a sustainable future for Rockford.

For more information about the Rockford Data Center project, please check out the  Rockford Data Center website