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Logan County Board
Proposed moratorium on data centers in Logan County
[February 23, 2026]
At the recent Workshop meeting
of the Logan County Board, Chairman JR Glenn proposed a 90-day
moratorium on accepting applications for data centers in the county.
Lincoln Daily News interviewed Glenn on why he proposed the
moratorium. To read about the workshop meeting please click
here.
The interview started with Glenn sharing that the timeline of the
moratorium can be adjusted. He stated that 90 days was just a number
that he threw out, and that it might not be the final number of the
moratorium.
Glenn talked about why he made the motion. He explained that there
have been a lot of questions about the proposed Hut 8 data center
that have not been answered. According to Glenn, the board has been
trying to track down answers.
Glenn stated that he wants Logan County to be able to get out in
front of data centers. The state of Illinois has passed laws
requiring counties to accept wind and solar farms, and most recently
data storage facilities. These laws prohibit Illinois counties from
creating ordinances that are too restrictive to companies wanting to
make these kinds of projects. This being the case, the board has
been concerned that something was going to come from the state
mandating that counties make ordinances that allow for data centers.
Glenn stated that, after listening
to Governor J. B. Pritzker speak at his State of the State address,
it seems that Democrats are starting to shift on the matter. They
may stop giving tax incentives to counties, meaning that Logan
County might not get some of the money it was promised for having to
take these projects.
The board has wanted to wait to see what the state was going to do
regarding these data centers, but it now seems that they might not
put any laws in place requiring counties to accept them. Since this
is the case, Glenn stated that it is important for Logan County to
slow down on data centers and start taking the time to look for
answers to the questions they have.
Glenn continued that he is confident his proposed moratorium will
pass at Tuesday night’s regular board meeting stating that there is
enough support among the other board members to get it passed.
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In his personal
opinion, Glenn believes the responses the board have taken so
far have not been in response to Hut 8, but rather what might
have come out of Springfield law wise. It seems now that
Illinois counties may be able to set their own rules for data
centers.
Glenn then mentioned ordinances, stating he feels there might be a
misconception about why the board is putting one in place for data
centers. Glenn stated that he saw a comment recently on social media
claiming the proposed Hut 8 data center was already approved because
the board was putting an ordinance in place. Glenn stated that the
ordinance is not to invite companies like Hut 8 into the county.
Rather, it is to set restrictions for data center companies that
Logan County decides to do business with, if they decide to do
business with them in the first place. Without ordinances, Glenn
stated, all a data center would need to be built in Logan County
would be some rezoned land and a building permit. Ordinances allow
the county to set the conditions that data centers must be built
under.
Glenn continued, stating that if something is possibly going to
bring a large amount of money to Logan County, the board really
should be taking a longer look at it. The idea was never to have the
proposed data center be something they rush through just to approve.
The moratorium Glenn proposed would not allow applications from
anyone looking to build a data center. He stated that they need
their questions answered before they continue looking at Hut 8 or
anyone else. If the state is taking away tax incentives for these
kinds of projects, then they really need to be taking a look at
them.
[Matt Boutcher]
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