Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Sangamon County’s Zoning Board of Appeals Thursday advanced the data center proposed for near Waverly, though local attorney Kyle Barry reminded everyone in the county board room Thursday that, technically, the vote was not about the data center.

“This is not a debate about data centers,” said Barry on behalf of CyrusOne. “The question that’s on the agenda and on the table is whether the petitioner’s application meets the standards and applicable laws.”

In addition to the environmental reasons to dislike the project, Lori McKiernan said the CyrusOne proposal is incomplete. “There’s no protection for reclaiming or restoring the land in case of closure or bankruptcy,” she said. “The application does not guarantee that CyrusOne will purchase the required EMS equipment/ The application does say that the octave band measures and standards will be determined later. That should be in the application.”

Speaking of the environment, a CyrusOne representative said the center will use about as much water as fifteen houses.

The ZBA approved the conditional permitted use, 5-0. The Sangamon County Board meets March 23.