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According to the Daily Herald, Aurora officials have hit the brakes on new data center and warehouse projects, approving a six-month moratorium to review zoning rules and address growing community concerns over noise, energy use, and infrastructure strain.
The move is part of a broader regional debate as nearby cities weigh the environmental and economic tradeoffs of these massive facilities.
Key things to know:
Aurora’s temporary pause gives city staff time to study best practices, potential zoning updates, and long-term service costs before approving additional projects.
Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns, who leads an environmental committee for the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, said data centers’ high energy and water demands strain local systems, though they also bring significant tax revenue.
Residents near existing sites have complained about persistent noise from backup generators and cooling systems.
Naperville’s environmental task force has urged its city council to adopt a similar six-month moratorium, though developers there argue current zoning already provides oversight.
According to a city spokesperson, Geneva doesn’t currently have the infrastructure in place to host a new large data center.
Read more in this Daily Herald article.
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