Data Centers Set to Be Banned Across Plainfield After City Council Vote

Data centers are set to be prohibited throughout Plainfield after the City Council unanimously approved an ordinance banning the facilities on second reading and final passage Monday night. The approval completed a process that started in June when Councilor Darcella Sessomes introduced the ordinance. Before that, the administration introduced guardrails to data center construction in May, which was rejected by the council with only 2 affirmative votes.

Under the ordinance that passed on Monday, data centers are prohibited uses in every zoning district in Plainfield. Properties also cannot be converted, expanded or reconstructed for use as a data center. The ordinance defines a data center broadly as a facility housing computer systems and associated infrastructure used for purposes including cloud computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, cryptocurrency, blockchain, video streaming, telecommunications and data storage.

The ordinance leaves open the possibility of data centers being permitted in Plainfield in the future, but doing so would require an amendment to the city's Master Plan and Land Use Ordinances specifically authorizing them. Barring an unexpected veto, the ordinance will take effect following publication as required by law and compliance with the requirements of the Municipal Land Use Law.

This article was produced with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy against official sources.

Produced with AI assistance and reviewed against source records.