A proposed $500 million data center by Dallas-based infrastructure developer CyrusOne remains in regulatory limbo after the Sangamon County Board voted on March 23, 2026, to table the zoning proposal rather than grant the conditional permitted use needed for construction. The vote was 15‑13 in favor of tabling the project following extensive public comment and debate.

Board Action

At a county board session attended by more than 700 residents, the governing body opted to postpone formal approval of the data center application rather than advance it. The decision followed hours of testimony from constituents, many opposing the project due to concerns about land use, environmental impacts, and local infrastructure.

Because the project was tabled, no zoning permit has been approved. A future motion will be required to bring the proposal back for a formal vote.

CyrusOne first filed for conditional permitted use in Sangamon County’s agricultural district in late 2025, as the proposed site—roughly 280 acres in Talkington Township southwest of Springfield—is zoned agricultural. The company requested approval to build Central Illinois’ first major hyperscale data center campus.

The development plan envisions six one-story buildings of approximately 250,000 square feet each, totaling around 1.4 million square feet on farmland, with a potential power capacity of 600 MW. The project represents an estimated $500 million investment. If approved, construction could begin as early as 2027.

Economic and Infrastructure Impacts

Supporters of the project highlight potential economic benefits:

• Over 500 construction jobs during the build-out, with labor unions prioritized under a project labor agreement.
• Approximately 100 permanent full-time positions once operational.
• Estimated annual property tax revenue of up to $6 million for local taxing bodies by the early 2030s.
• Economic spillover, including services, maintenance, and support industries tied to data center operations.

Community Concerns

The proposal has also faced significant opposition from local residents and community groups. Key concerns include:

• Conversion of productive farmland and changes to the rural character of the area.
• Electricity demand and potential effects on local utility rates.
• Environmental and health impacts, including noise and emissions from backup power generators.
• Operational noise and traffic from heavy equipment and service vehicles.

Public protest actions and rallies have taken place in Springfield and Waverly during various board and zoning committee meetings.

Regulatory Process

Prior to the March 23 board action, the Sangamon County Zoning Board of Appeals voted 5‑0 to recommend the project as a conditional permitted use, although that recommendation was non-binding. County committees had previously denied a proposed moratorium on data center approvals, allowing the CyrusOne proposal to continue through the normal review process.

Next Steps

The project’s future depends on a board member motion to remove the tabled item from committee status and re-schedule it for another full County Board vote. CyrusOne and local stakeholders will likely engage further to address unresolved community concerns before reconsideration.

The CyrusOne proposal in Sangamon County is part of a broader wave of large-scale data center investment in the Midwest, where companies are targeting central locations for hyperscale computing facilities. In a parallel development, Metrobloks recently announced a $1.4 billion data center campus in Liberty, Missouri, reflecting a regional trend toward expanding digital infrastructure to meet growing enterprise and cloud computing demand. Together, these projects illustrate the Midwest’s emerging role as a strategic hub for data-intensive operations, offering access to power, land, and connectivity.

CyrusOne Data Center — Sangamon County, Illinois

Location: Talkington Township, Sangamon County, southwest of Springfield, IL
Developer: CyrusOne, Dallas, TX

Project Overview

• Site Area: 280 acres (former farmland)
• Project Type: Hyperscale data center campus
• Buildings: Up to 6 one-story buildings (~250,000 sq ft each)
• Total Footprint: 1.4 million sq ft
• Planned Power Capacity: ~600 MW
• Estimated Investment: $500+ million

Timeline & Status

• Initial Filing for Conditional Use: Late 2025
• Public Hearings & Zoning Review: Winter 2025–2026
• Latest County Board Action: March 23, 2026 — vote to table (defer) zoning approval, vote 15‑13
• Construction Start (if approved): Targeted 2027
• Next Board Meeting: April 7, 2026 (earliest opportunity for reconsideration)

Economic Impact

• Construction Jobs: 500 (temporary)
• Permanent Jobs: 100 full-time positions
• Estimated Property Tax Revenue: Up to $6 million annually once operational
• Ancillary Economic Benefits: Local service and supply chain activity

Community & Regulatory Context

• Supporters: Labor groups, economic development advocates citing jobs and revenue
• Opponents: Local residents and community groups citing land use, environmental impact, electricity demand, and noise concerns
• Zoning Status: Tabled by County Board; requires motion to return for final vote
• Prior Recommendation: Zoning Board of Appeals recommended conditional permitted use (non-binding)

Key Considerations

• Air-cooled data center design limits water consumption
• Grid capacity deemed manageable by company and utility representatives; concerns remain among critics
• Community engagement ongoing; public hearings and rallies have been part of the review process

Project Team

• CyrusOne, Inc. – Developer and prospective operator
• Ameren Illinois & RECC – Power supply and distribution
• MISO – Regional transmission planning
• Sangamon County Government – Zoning and permitting
• Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance – Local economic support