No company has approached Kewanee city officials about building a data center here. But if that should happen, city officials now have an ordinance outlining the limitations and regulations on data centers.
The City Council approved that ordinance at Monday’s meeting.
The ordinance says a data center may only be located on property zoned M-2, the most-restrictive manufacturing zoning category.
That category is for operations like dumping garbage, extracting of gravel, adult businesses and cannabis growing and processing.
The ordinance also requires that operators of a data center obtain a special use permit in addition to the proper zoning.
That means that the city and the public will have two opportunities to share their questions and opinions on data centers — before the Planning Commission, which recommends approval or disapproval of special use permits, and before the council.
Companies wanting to build data centers typically pick rural areas where fewer neighbors would be affected than in cities. In other parts of the country, local residents have expressed strong disapproval of having a nearby data center.
Mayor Gary Moore said no one has approached him about building a data center here.
But he added, “I thought it best that we get ahead of the situation.”
The ordinance gives this definition of a data center:
“A facility used primarily for the storage, management, processing and transmission of digital data, which houses computer or network equipment, servers, appliances, and other associated components related to digital data storage and operations. Data Centers include High Density Computing Facilities (such as commercial cryptocurrency mining operations, artificial intelligence processing, and machine learning networks) and feature accessory infrastructure necessary for their operations, including but not limited to:
— Mechanical cooling systems and air handling equipment (including liquid cooling and heat exchangers},
— Backup power generation systems, such as diesel generators and battery arrays,
— Electrical substations, high-voltage power distribution, equipment, and fiber optic telecommunications infrastructure,
— High-performance computing (HPC) server racks and containment systems.”
Moore said he has been studying data center ordinances from other cities. “I’ve been going through them, slowly but surely,” he said. “We may never even broach this issue ever again, I know,” the mayor said, “But I want to be prepared.”
Moore has called on his fellow council members — and all Kewaneeans — to study the data center issue and be prepared to offer their input on the matter.
Councilman Adam Cernovich thanked the mayor for his efforts on data centers.
“I appreciate your foresight,” Cernovich said.
