A Dallas-based company is seeking zoning approval to establish a $500 million data center on 280 acres of farmland southwest of Springfield in what would be the largest building construction project in Sangamon County history.
CyrusOne, which operates more than 55 data centers across the United States, Europe and Japan – including two in the Chicago area – filed the request in recent days for a conditional permitted use in an agricultural zone at the northwest corner of Thayer and Clark roads in Talkington Township, 14 miles southwest of Springfield.
Six 250,000-square-foot, one-story buildings would be constructed as part of the project. The total indoor space would be the size of 26 football fields, and the project’s footprint would be more than three times the size of Springfield’s Scheels Sports Complex at Legacy Pointe.
CyrusOne would establish the first data center in Sangamon County, and the project would represent one of the first modern data centers in central Illinois, according to Ryan McCrady, president and chief executive officer of the Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance.
Data centers provide computer servers and other equipment and high-speed data transmission lines that help power the internet. The growing uses of artificial intelligence has led to a surge in data center construction in recent years.
The proposed Sangamon County project “would be one of our larger campus developments,” CyrusOne said Oct. 17 in written responses to questions from Illinois Times. “The Sangamon County site offers the power infrastructure, skilled workforce and strategic locations we need, while our investment provides the tax revenue and economic benefits the community needs. It’s a partnership that works for both sides.”
The project would create hundreds of temporary construction jobs and approximately 100 full-time jobs for workers with technical, facility management and operational roles, CyrusOne said.
The zoning request is scheduled to be considered for a nonbinding recommendation Nov. 20 by the Sangamon County Zoning Board of Appeals. The Sangamon County Board would have the final say and could vote as soon as its Dec. 9 meeting.
County Board member Craig Hall, a Republican whose district includes the proposed project site, said he hasn’t formed an opinion about it, and most of his constituents know little to nothing about the project yet.
McCrady, who has been working with CyrusOne officials, said company officials would like to begin construction in 2026 and complete it in 2027.
The project would significantly increase property tax revenues for school districts and other local taxing entities and help hold down property tax bills for residents, McCrady said. He said he is working on estimates for increases in tax revenues, but he noted that some of the taxing entities that would benefit include Sangamon County and the Waverly and North Mac school districts, Talkington Township and the Virden Fire Protection District, he said.
“This is very good news for our area, especially when you think about what it will mean for the assessed value across the entire county,” McCrady said.
He added that the project has support from the Growth Alliance, a nonprofit economic development group made up of representatives from private companies and local governments.
“The real solution to stabilizing or lowering everybody’s property tax burden is to increase the value of properties in your county,” McCrady said. “It’s also going to continue to attract jobs and stable employment into the community.”
The proposed data center would be immediately north of Swift Current Energy’s $800 million Double Black Diamond solar farm, which began operating in April and covers 4,200 acres in Sangamon and Morgan counties.
Related
Major solar development opens in Sangamon County
CyrusOne was attracted to the site because of the availability of willing sellers of large plots of land and the nearby proximity of Ameren high-volume electric transmission lines, McCrady said. Those lines also serve the solar farm, which is one of the largest in the country. The data center would require 600 megawatts of electricity, McCrady said. That amount of electricity can power between 120,000 and 420,000 homes.
New data centers have raised concerns among the public because of their sometimes high use of water to cool computer equipment, and their high use of electricity, which can fuel increases in electric rates and lead to criticism about speeding climate change when the power is created by burning fossil fuels.
McCrady said data center companies have pivoted to newer and different technology to reduce concerns about water usage.
CyrusOne, which would connect to the Apple Creek Rural Water system for the Sangamon County data center and create a septic system for sewage, said in its responses that the facility would use “air-cooled, closed-loop technology” instead of water to prevent equipment from overheating.
“Our water usage will be comparable to a standard office building – primarily for restrooms and basic facility operations, not for cooling equipment,” the company said. “This air-cooling approach is standard across all CyrusOne facilities, which means we won’t be drawing significant amounts of water from local supplies.”
Elsewhere in Illinois, CyrusOne operates data centers in Aurora and Lombard and is developing data centers in Wood Dale and Yorkville. The company said it has invested more than $1.2 billion so far in its Illinois infrastructure.
When asked about potential strain on the power grid, CyrusOne provided this response:
“CyrusOne will pay for all transmission line upgrades and infrastructure improvements required to power this data center. Residents will not pay for these upgrades. We’ll enter into agreements with Ameren Illinois and Rural Electric Convenience Cooperative that ensure we pay for the electricity we use and our fair share of the grid costs.”
The statement said Cyrus will work with Ameren, MISO (an electric grid operator for the central U.S.) and the RECC “to ensure this facility will not strain the local grid.”
McCrady said the multi-state region served by MISO, which includes the Springfield area and part of Illinois, is dealing with coal-fired power plants and other plants using fossil fuels closing down because of age and state legislation mandating reductions in carbon emissions.
States and communities need to work harder to develop more base electric capacity – beyond what is produced by solar and wind technology – to help stabilize electric rates, McCrady said.
The Sangamon County Board on July 8 unanimously approved a change to the county zoning ordinance that avoids the need to rezone agricultural land for a data center. Instead, the County Board can vote to grant a “conditional permitted use” within an agricultural district.
This is a terrible idea. Our electricity is already through the roof!
When that many baseline power plants are closed, electricity is going to go up regardless.
McCrady seems pretty clueless about renewable energy, stuck somewhere in 2015, when battery storage was just dawning. Now renewables WITH storage can produce energy more reliably than gas and coal with all their environmental problems and immense volatility in price and risk. His solution is not to insist that data companies build generative infrastructure to support their 600 mw sucking of power off the grid. Instead, he suggests that WE, the ratepayers, have to build it to support AI datacenter profits.
I will have lots of questions about how exactly this company proposes to pay – and how much – to finance the buildout of “electric infrastructure” needed to run this thing. Im guessing they are building zero generation, though – not one watt. For perspective, it would take three Dallman 4-sized power plants, running at full blast 24/7 (yes I know it’s not possible) to run this thing, or the entire output of Black Diamond plus 600 mw massive storage. I will also want to know what decommissioning safeguards are in place (none, I bet). These new tech companies could collapse, and leave us holding the bag for a massive clean up. And for what? So you can ask Grok to feed you profa misinformation, or look at AI porn sites, or inadequate summaries of city council meetings, or something? Oy.
Hi Donald Hanrahan,
You wrote,
“it would take three Dallman 4-sized power plants, running at full blast 24/7 (yes I know it’s not possible) to run this thing, or the entire output of Black Diamond plus 600 mw massive storage.”
I don’t understand what you are complaining about, because this was your plan from the beginning. The commie environmentalists like you said we don’t need fossil fuel burning power plants because renewables could provide more than enough electricity.
Why can’t a company come in and build a million solar panels + 10,000 batteries for each data center? This was your plan! You said it would work out great!
Or was your plan only viable with zero growth in demand for energy?
This is what expansion of the tax base and real jobs that produce look like—not another tax increase and having your hand out for other people’s money like you so much enjoy, Don.
This will add millions to the tax base for schools, police, fire departments, etc., with no extra cost. Construction jobs and permanent jobs after that spur more positive growth.
It really isn’t anyone’s business what they do with their land. including those useless windmills and solar panels.
You have jumped on the bandwagon for that, which does nothing for the environment and just produces big tax credits for people and companies that need them the least.
The only two that is clueless and useless once again is you, Don joined by McCrady this wasn’t his project to announce.
Why don’t you disclose that you are an attorney and a card-carrying member of the Sierra Club?
If you feel so strongly about the use of data centers, why are you using a computer and cell phone?
The amount of left-wing lunatic misinformation about data centers is beyond belief.
Holding the bag for a massive cleanup? What imaginary cleanup are you thinking of now, Don?
These solar farms and windmills have a much bigger total pollution footprint than a coal plant or coal mine.
Who is cleaning up that mess? Look at AI porn sites? Are you trying to tell us something about yourself, Don?
I don’t think it would be a benefit to our county in the long run. I do not support it.
Me either.
How much did the county zoning board cost?
So much disinformation about data centers that gets spread by the lunatics on the left, despite their own use of computers and cell phones. This is what jobs and the tax base look like—not more tax increases. This should be supported.
However, Ryan McCrady should keep his nose out of it before he screws it up like he did the Frito Lay distribution center. These data centers are coming without the help or hindrance of Ryan McCrady; he is trying to take credit for this to make his job look worthwhile.
What happened with the Frito Lay distribution center?
Allegedly Ryan McCrady of Sangamon County Growth Alliance, with his big mouth, screwed the Frito-Lay deal up.
Ryan McCrady trying to grab any straw he can to look relevant, just as with this project he had zero to do with but is now trying to take credit for.
With this kind of extremely bad rollout, I wouldn’t be surprised if they moved elsewhere.
Such as the next set of counties south of the location.
This is NOT how a major project is announced.
These kinds of major announcements are always done at the beginning of the week to give people time to ask questions.
Projects this size are made public with an announcement with the owner or representative of the company that is building it with ALL applicable elected leaders with the public involved to ask questions, so its fate is not being determined on Facebook Court.
The county board representative wasn’t even aware of this. If we ever stand a decent chance at attracting real economic development and jobs back to the area, this Ryan McCrady has to be fired.
And you seemingly have no issue helping raise those costs of energy in every way possible. I feel like you are misguided on conservative vs liberal and I am not sure where that even plays into people like you wanting to invade rural areas with your progress. Keep in Sangamon County. It should be against thr law to build like this so close to county lines. Especially when it negatively impacts Morgan and Macoupin so more than Sangamon. Sure, Sangamon reaps the benefits and we deal with thr mess. I dont think farming families should sell out our children for a proposed 8% per year increase in school funding. Our children are members of Future FARMERS of America. Your progress keeps destroying thr prospect of them ever being able to reap the rewards of hard work. There are things more important in this life than money and progress. You are just blind to them.
How much taxpayer money was used for building the $800 million Solar farm? Why is half of it being used for a data center from a company outside of our area? Why is some of the best land in the world being used for solar (4200 acres) already in Sangamon and nearby by counties.
This.
oh lord have mercy
More land, more water, and way more electricity gone with these massive data centers. Plus, pollution, noise, and higher chances of health effects (from backup generators, etc).
The environmentalists hate this, therefore it must be a great idea.
The environmentalists’ version of a great idea is shutting down all of our power plants and putting everyone at risk for rolling blackouts.
When a business that uses lots of power wants to come to town, now the environmentalists are suddenly concerned about the power grid. When they decided to turn off all the power plants, they had no concern at all for the power grid.
What happened to building a million solar panels and 10,000 building-sized batteries? Why can’t the solar panels and batteries power data centers too?
Nice to see you back Burger Addict
Burger addict, why wouldn’t we listen to environmentalists? We all have to live on this land. They are looking at the long term effects in all aspects, not just “shutting down power plants.” Oftentimes, they have a many pronged approach to continuing to upgrade power grids & create renewable energy sources, but politicians come in & cherry pick ideas that make them look good. Or the projects get underway & then are abandoned before completion by incoming officials who decide they want to “go in a different direction.” The steps to create the solar, wind, or other resources is never seen to fruition because some politician wants to give his friends contracts, making the environmentalists’ plans look like it didn’t work when in reality it was never executed properly.
I am skeptical of these data centers’ claims based on results seen in other communities throughout the country, but I am not against the business itself. I am concerned about them draining our resources, possible contamination of groundwater & air pollution, & increasing costs to the general public. I also don’t trust a politician telling me that our area will be different. We need environmentalists involved because they are they experts in these things. Decisions like these should not be taken lightly.
Hi JLF,
You wrote,
“Burger addict, why wouldn’t we listen to environmentalists?”
Because environmentalists are fundamentally driven by a hatred for humanity. They refer to humans as a “cancer” on the Earth and that the Earth would be better off without us. They don’t want to see humans expand and thrive, they want humans to contract and die. Their version of utopia is everyone living in utter privation like the Native Americans: huddled around wood fires for warmth, praying to the Sun God.
You wrote,
“We need environmentalists involved because they are they experts in these things.”
Environmentalists are far from experts in anything. They practice a pagan religion which worships nature and demonizes humanity. They don a cloak of science, when it’s convenient for them, to hide the fact that they are pagans who worship the Sun God. The Sun God who’s going to burn us all to a crisp if we don’t sacrifice the comforts of modern life upon his altar.
Burger addict is an idgit.
In the long run, these data centers are going to bite all of us. Get ready for your already high electric bill to sky rocket. Typical red hat agenda.
Hi Get a clue,
Electricity is a commodity which is subject to the basic economic principle of supply vs. demand. If we generate more electricity, the price will go down. If we turn off our power plants to please the Sun God, and generate less electricity, the price will go up.
The “red hat agenda” is to generate more electricity than we need so the price will go down. The environmentalist agenda is to turn off the power plants to appease the Sun God and then blame the “red hats” for their stupid decision.
The environmentalists said we could generate more than enough electricity with solar panels and batteries, but now they are saying that’s not true. Were the environmentalists lying or were they just ignorant and wrong?
Have a look at my comment. Feedback is welcomed.
Solar Power is NOT Clean, Green, or Affordable. As a Semi Driver, I delivered loads of solar panels from near Toledo, Ohio to the Virden-Waverly solar farm. Each trip burned just under 100 gallons of diesel fuel. I was only one of hundreds of rigs, delivering to that solar septic tank. So each semi load was around 100 gallons of fuel. Where I picked up, was near a railyard. The panels had traveled by an unknown amount of trains, from Los Angeles, to near where I picked up in the Toledo area. Those panels were manufactured in China. They were loaded on huge container ships. The average container ship will burn 1.6 million gallons of heavy diesel fuel, on the trip between China and USA. The process of making the solar panels is an environmental ripsaw. The process on converting silica sand into the 99.99999% pure photovoltaic cells uses a huge amount of energy, and a process that uses huge amounts chemicals that or toxic and corrosive. The manufacture, transport, and installation of all equipment required for a solar farm, is far greater, than the power that said solar farms will ever create. Especially in the midwest, where the panels are produce no power on days of heavy overcast, rain, and especially when covered by snow. Solar power is a fraud, and I did not cover all the dirty procedures in this rant. Also not mentioned, is the power used, and all the nasty materials that go into the storage batteries, that will die off in a few years, just as happens in cars. I’ll be happy to debate even Elon Musk on this subject.
Great common sense post. Don’t forget the highly toxic sludge that China dumps into the ocean that is worse than any oil or coal waste or the solar glass that is nonrecyclable. The money that China gets from the USA is used to build military forces against us and kill more people every year in human rights violations than all other countries. COMBINED
They are killing themselves and their land. Check out sludge lake at Baotou China. It is a bigger disaster than Chernobyl.
Hi Adrian DeLoche,
You make a great point.
Unfortunately, arguments such as these are not interesting to environmentalists. This is because environmentalism is not about making the world a better place for humans. Environmentalists hate humans.
Environmentalism isn’t even about improving the environment. Environmentalism is nothing more than a weapon used by political leftists to attack their opponents and western civilization (capitalism) in general. After they destroy western civilization, they can usher in the communist utopia. That’s why left-wing politics and environmental activism are so closely intertwined. The point is to destroy what currently exists.
I’ve been aware of the greenie weenies since I served with the Coast Guard in the 1980’s. In the 60’s and 70’s, they had valid concerns. I am witness that the USA has made vast improvements, but the corrupto-crats will never be satisfied.
Why are these companies not looking to place underground. There are two closed coal mines in Macoupin County that could be used.
Need to look into who owns the land and relationship to mccrady. Seems like both seller of land and mccrady know each other from high achool. Illinois corruption at its best. Its gonna raise electric prices on the maintence fees for all ameren customers. Farmer doesnt care about anyone but themselves and there chicago investors may need another doj investigation on this one. Then start to look into springfield chamber of commerce people and see where there from. Citizens should get to vote on this one on such a project not board members woth possible ties to all parties involved.
Even if they do know each other, So what many business transactions are done between people that know each other .
I doubt they do. If anything, McCrady has created a big PR mess for trying to use someone else’s project to benefit himself to look useful, and he is nothing but a useless idiot. He just picked this up on the Zoning hearing he had zero to do with sighting this property.
Projects this size are made public with an announcement with the owner or representative of the company that is building it with ALL applicable elected leaders with the public involved to ask questions, so its fate is not being determined on Facebook Court.
The county board representative wasn’t even aware of this.
If we ever stand a decent chance at attracting real economic development and jobs back to the area, this Ryan McCrady has to be fired.
It’s a private sale with private money that will pay taxes. This is a zoning change from agriculture to data farm. It’s not next to any houses. Not everything is corrupt in this world;
HB4058 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly
Illinois House Bill 4058
IL State Legislature page for HB4058
Summary
Sponsors
Texts
Votes
Research
Comments
Track
Status
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: Introduced on May 16 2025 – 25% progression
Action: 2025-09-30 – Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Kimberly Du Buclet
Pending: House Rules Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [HTML]
Summary
Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may certify a taxpayer for an exemption from any State or local use tax or retailers’ occupation tax on building materials that will be incorporated into real estate at a megaproject site. Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers’ Occupation Tax Act. Provides that a retailer that makes a qualified sale of building materials to be incorporated into real estate at a megaproject site may deduct the receipts from such sales when calculating the taxes imposed by those Acts. Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates the Megaproject Assessment Freeze and Payment Law. Provides that a “megaproject” is a project that meets certain investment and job creation specifications. Provides that the megaproject property is eligible for an assessment freeze. Provides that megaproject property may be granted an abatement. Provides that a company that operates a megaproject shall enter into an agreement with the municipality in which the project is located and other local taxing districts to make certain special payments. Effective July 1, 2025.
Tracking Information
Register now for our free OneVote public service or GAITS Pro trial account and you can begin tracking this and other legislation, all driven by the real-time data of the LegiScan API. Providing tools allowing you to research pending legislation, stay informed with email alerts, content feeds, and share dynamic reports. Use our new PolitiCorps to join with friends and collegaues to monitor & discuss bills through the process.
Monitor Legislation or view this same bill number from multiple sessions or take advantage of our national legislative search.
Title
REVENUE-MEGAPROJECTS
Sponsors
Rep. Jay Hoffman [D] Rep. Kimberly Du Buclet [D]
History
Date Chamber Action
2025-09-30 House Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Kimberly Du Buclet
2025-05-20 House Referred to Rules Committee
2025-05-20 House First Reading
2025-05-16 House Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Jay Hoffman
This is what is being said –
Here’s how it works. The bill locks in assessed values of designated megaprojects for 23 to 40 yrs while the real property values continue to climb. A parcel bought for $200 million but later build into a $5 billion complex would still only be taxed on just the $200 million figure. Thats approximately 96% tax reduction.
Net results, while the assessed values of these mega properties remain the same, homeowners will continue to see their values increase (EAV) be forced to pay much larger property tax bills going forward.
If you live in or near a community that has Data Center, Amazon facility, distribution center, etc. your property taxes could easily skyrocket in the next term.
Any thoughts on this?
Opinions and thought please!! says:
October 20, 2025 at 8:28 pm
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
HB4058 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly
Illinois House Bill 4058
IL State Legislature page for HB4058
Summary
Sponsors
Texts
Votes
Research
Comments
Track
Status
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: Introduced on May 16 2025 – 25% progression
Action: 2025-09-30 – Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Kimberly Du Buclet
Pending: House Rules Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [HTML]
Summary
Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may certify a taxpayer for an exemption from any State or local use tax or retailers’ occupation tax on building materials that will be incorporated into real estate at a megaproject site. Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers’ Occupation Tax Act. Provides that a retailer that makes a qualified sale of building materials to be incorporated into real estate at a megaproject site may deduct the receipts from such sales when calculating the taxes imposed by those Acts. Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates the Megaproject Assessment Freeze and Payment Law. Provides that a “megaproject” is a project that meets certain investment and job creation specifications. Provides that the megaproject property is eligible for an assessment freeze. Provides that megaproject property may be granted an abatement. Provides that a company that operates a megaproject shall enter into an agreement with the municipality in which the project is located and other local taxing districts to make certain special payments. Effective July 1, 2025.
Tracking Information
Register now for our free OneVote public service or GAITS Pro trial account and you can begin tracking this and other legislation, all driven by the real-time data of the LegiScan API. Providing tools allowing you to research pending legislation, stay informed with email alerts, content feeds, and share dynamic reports. Use our new PolitiCorps to join with friends and collegaues to monitor & discuss bills through the process.
Monitor Legislation or view this same bill number from multiple sessions or take advantage of our national legislative search.
Title
REVENUE-MEGAPROJECTS
Sponsors
Rep. Jay Hoffman [D] Rep. Kimberly Du Buclet [D]
History
Date Chamber Action
2025-09-30 House Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Kimberly Du Buclet
2025-05-20 House Referred to Rules Committee
2025-05-20 House First Reading
2025-05-16 House Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Jay Hoffman
This is what is being said –
Here’s how it works. The bill locks in assessed values of designated megaprojects for 23 to 40 yrs while the real property values continue to climb. A parcel bought for $200 million but later build into a $5 billion complex would still only be taxed on just the $200 million figure. Thats approximately 96% tax reduction.
Net results, while the assessed values of these mega properties remain the same, homeowners will continue to see their values increase (EAV) be forced to pay much larger property tax bills going forward.
If you live in or near a community that has Data Center, Amazon facility, distribution center, etc. your property taxes could easily skyrocket in the next term.
Any thoughts on this?
Is there a public meeting in the future or is this a done deal?
Climate change isn’t mentioned once in Olsen’s article on the data centers or the uphill battle at decreasing energy consumption, thus lower CO2 in the atmosphere therefore reduce climate change. Data centers are ramping up energy use at an alarming level all over the country. This center is three times the energy use of Dallman 4. It also needs to be noted that the way data centers are assessed for property taxes is very much in flux. It leaves the door open for the company to go to court after the facility is complete and reduce taxes up to 90 percent. It happened in Neoga, IL with a natural gas plant and they almost lost their school the loss. Prince William County spent $500,000 on attorney fees in tax battles with a data center. We need time to assess and protect on this major move. Aurora has put a moratorium on data centers to do so. Citizens deserve nothing less. We are having an informational meeting Wednesday Oct 29 at 6 pm sponsored by the Coalition for Springfield’s Energy Future at Lincoln Library.
What really makes me angry is that this isn’t going on Springfield land. This monstrosity is going to be on land in the Lowder, Virden and Waverly area but Springfield is making the decisions on it. We are going to be the ones paying higher rates for water and electricity and possibly ending up with restrictions when there isn’t enough power and water to keep this thing and our homes running. Yeah they’re waving empty promises of tax dollars for our schools, but from my point of view, the home owners in these towns are going to be the ones who end up paying for that also.
I agree – people who don’t even live here get to stick us with wind, solar, and data centers so they can pretend to be “green,” “create jobs” and all it does is create eyesores. It’s all so hollow too when they talk about the tax money the projects will create as if that’s all locals care about. These internationalist corporations can keep their money.