Data Center Boom has Rural Midwest Communities Divided
Building on farmland is seemingly always controversial. I recall housing developments, wind projects, and now data centers.
It all comes down to scarce resource utilization and quality of life.
All land uses require water, power, and land. Some require more than others.
Data centers have enormous power and water needs.
Farming also requires water, and in the Midwest that means groundwater. The conflict arises when increasing water demands drain aquifers, leaving the land worthless for farming and ranching.
The State of Illinois is providing incentives for data centers. With the promise of jobs, the state is offering tax exemptions worth over $250 million.
Powering these data centers requires new energy sources. Wind and solar remain the least costly and least polluting options.
Balancing future needs has always been a struggle, but today it feels more acute because land use may become a winner-take-all situation.
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Additional Information:
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