Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has signed an executive order establishing new rules and reviews for data centers in the city. The order creates a task force to implement a long-term strategy for regulating data centers, which are currently classified as offices in the city’s zoning ordinance.
Background
The move comes after a city working group recommended that local leaders take a new approach to regulating data centers, citing the unique impacts they have on the surrounding community. The working group’s report noted that data centers are permitted ‘by-right’ in many areas of the city, without needing a zoning review.
Johnson’s order follows a July report that recommended the city overturn a restriction barring the release of energy and water data for buildings with data centers. The task force created by the order will implement the report’s recommendations, including creating a permitting program specific to data centers and requiring most data centers to undergo a zoning review that needs City Council approval.
The city is home to about 39 data centers, which house computers needed for products like media streaming, artificial intelligence, and cloud storage. Johnson’s administration is pushing for a moratorium on new or expanded data centers until the city’s regulations are updated.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
