Taylorville, IL (WAND) – Dozens of Christian County residents filled a county board meeting to discuss the proposed Eagle Rock Partners data center. Some residents urged county officials to do more research, while others called on officials to reject data centers altogether.
“The one asset that large industries want from small communities is ignorance. I am proud to see so many members of our community here tonight to prove them wrong,” one county resident said.
One of the biggest concerns is water usage. Village of Palmer Mayor Mike McKinney said water is the biggest source of revenue for the village.
“I’m concerned if there’s any damage to the water. That could put Palmer in jeopardy, closing doors, because that’s our biggest revenue stream,” McKinney said.
The projected $8.8 billion project is expected to create thousands of construction jobs and hundreds of permanent jobs in Christian County. Residents said they want more transparency from representatives.
“When the documents say the township is going to receive $15 million, and that’s not being spoken about, it’s really concerning what’s going on behind closed doors and not getting invited to the table,” another resident said.
Farm owners encouraged officials to consider what a data center could do to farmland and businesses that rely on agriculture.
“They interrupt the circadian rhythm of animals, including birds, wildlife, livestock and humans,” another resident said.
Christian County established a temporary restriction on data center construction in August 2025. The moratorium will remain in place until the board adopts new regulations for data centers.
The county board did not vote on any data center proposal Tuesday night. The Christian County Economic Development Corp. is hosting an information session about the proposed data center on June 2.
