Sangamon County
Community FAQ

Rural Electric Convenience Cooperative (RECC), who will be delivering electric service to this project, has published their own FAQ addressing community questions:

https://www.recc.coop/news-info/sangamon-county-data-center-your-questions-answered/

This project will bring significant benefits to the community, including a capital investment exceeding $500 million, hundreds of construction jobs, permanent full-time employment opportunities, and ongoing property tax revenue for schools, fire departments, and emergency services. We are committed to prioritizing local workers and contractors through Sangamon County’s workforce.

This project represents a capital investment exceeding $500 million across multiple phases. At full buildout, the project is expected to generate approximately $6 million annually in property tax revenue, supporting schools, fire departments, emergency services, and essential local services.

CyrusOne is not requesting any property tax abatement for this project. Property tax assessments and payments are administered by the County Assessor’s office in accordance with Illinois law. CyrusOne will comply with all applicable tax regulations.

Tax revenue is only one component of the total economic impact. This 24/7 operation will increase demand for support services throughout the region, support local businesses, and create jobs throughout the development lifecycle.

Once fully operational, the campus is expected to employ more than 100 permanent, full-time employees over time, supporting technical operations, facility management, and other essential support roles. Positions include electricians, HVAC technicians, data center technicians, facilities managers, and security personnel.

Construction will also create more than 500 jobs over the multi-year build period across various trades and skilled labor.

To help prepare local residents for long-term careers in data center operations, CyrusOne is exploring partnerships with regional technical schools and workforce development programs to support training in data centers fields and supportive fields such as electrical systems, HVAC, and critical facility operations.

Construction will also create hundreds of jobs over the multi-year build period across various trades and skilled labor. We are committed to prioritizing regional workforce through Sangamon County workforce development programs, ensuring local workers and contractors get first opportunity.

Following approval, CyrusOne will host a local career fair to connect Sangamon County residents directly with construction partners, local trades, and employers hiring for both immediate and long-term roles tied to the project.

No, residential and commercial customers will not see their electric bills increase because of this data center. We selected this site specifically because the grid already has available transmission capacity to serve the data center. CyrusOne will pay for all transmission line upgrades and infrastructure improvements required to power this facility — residents will not pay for these upgrades. We will enter into agreements with local utility providers that ensure we pay for the electricity we use and our fair share of grid costs.

Recent research from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that increased electricity demand from large users like data centers actually tends to lower rates for other customers, as fixed infrastructure costs are spread across more users (and higher energy volumes).

No. The site was selected because the grid has available transmission capacity. CyrusOne works in close coordination with Ameren, MISO (Midcontinent Independent System Operator), and the Rural Electric Convenience Cooperative to ensure this facility will not strain the local grid.

Ameren and MISO completed load studies to confirm the load can be added at this location within the transmission network. The enhanced redundancy of our electrical designs also greatly reduces the probability of impacting the grid during operations.

 The facility will be served by the local grid through the Rural Electric Convenience Cooperative (RECC), with wholesale electricity transmitted via Ameren Illinois’ transmission lines. Backup generators are used only for emergency situations and required maintenance testing (10–15 hours per year). These generators comply with all EPA standards and emissions regulations. 

No. We use closed-loop cooling technology that minimizes water consumption. A closed-loop cooling system is a self-contained system that continuously circulates water within the building to remove heat without mixing with the external environment. After the initial fill, there is no daily water usage for cooling since the system remains closed. A small amount of make-up water may be added periodically to account for minor evaporation.

Our water usage per building, outside of the initial closed-loop cooling fill, is comparable to a small office building or two to three single-family homes—primarily for restrooms, basic facility operations, and humidification.

This approach is standard across all new CyrusOne facilities and ensures we are not drawing significant amounts of water from local supplies. CyrusOne has viewed water as a precious resource in our designs for over a decade and remains committed to that approach.

No. The closed-loop cooling system is a sealed, self-contained system with no discharge to soil or groundwater. The system uses water with corrosion inhibitors and microbiocides to maintain system integrity. After application of these treatments, the system remains 99.999% water.

All system fluids are managed by licensed contractors in accordance with EPA regulations. Any maintenance requiring fluid removal is handled by certified vendors and disposed of off-site in full compliance with environmental regulations. The site will use a code-compliant septic system for non-cooling water discharge, designed to protect soil and groundwater quality.

No. Our water usage is minimal and comparable to a small office building, primarily for restrooms and basic facility operations. Because our cooling system operates in a closed loop, it does not require continuous water consumption.

This limited water demand will not affect local water rates or availability.

No. We selected this site to avoid disrupting agricultural operations. The facility is designed to be a good neighbor with minimal environmental impact, and traffic will be minimal once operational.

CyrusOne is entering into an Agricultural Impact Mitigation Agreement with the Illinois Department of Agriculture and working directly with Sangamon County to ensure surrounding farmland and drainage are protected.

Noise will meet Illinois Pollution Control Board standards. Our facilities are designed to meet and exceed all local noise regulations, with acoustic consultants confirming compliance before construction.

All lighting is directed downward with no uplighting, minimizing light pollution and preserving dark skies. Light spill beyond property boundaries is minimized through shielding and directional fixtures.

Data center operations do not generate significant vibration.

Backup generators use diesel fuel with modern emission controls. All testing, maintenance, and operational run times comply with EPA standards and limits.

Generators are used infrequently—primarily for maintenance testing and in rare emergency situations—and all emissions are regulated under EPA and Illinois air quality standards.

 No. Data centers are clean facilities that do not generate industrial air pollution. The only emissions come from backup generators, which operate infrequently and comply with all regulatory standards. These systems are comparable to those used by hospitals and other critical infrastructure. 

The County’s established review process includes public hearings before the Zoning Board of Appeals where community members can ask questions and provide input.

CyrusOne is committed to transparency and ongoing engagement. We have provided a comprehensive FAQ, made ourselves available for direct questions, and engaged with local officials and community stakeholders throughout the process.

Questions about future development in Sangamon County are best directed to county officials, who maintain full authority over land use decisions and long-term planning.

For additional questions, please contact: communities@cyrusone.com