Tech Giant Proposes $500 Million Data Center Next to Morgan County

On November 13, 2025 CyrusOne, a Dallas based data center operator, filed plans for a $500 million project that would sit on about 280 acres in Talkington Township in Sangamon County, just across the county line from Morgan County and the village of Waverly. The proposal calls for six buildings each 250,000 square feet and would deliver about 600 megawatts of capacity, marking what company materials describe as the region's first major data center.

The scope and scale of the proposal have prompted rapid public attention because of the local impacts that come with large scale data operations. Residents and local officials have voiced concerns about noise from continuous equipment operation, the water requirements for cooling, and broader environmental consequences on rural land. The mayor of Waverly and local environmental advocates have pushed for greater transparency, formal public forums and a thorough engineering review of water and utility plans before approvals move forward.

Sangamon County officials signaled caution in response to those concerns. County leaders asked CyrusOne to slow the approval timeline and said they expect the company to return to the county board with more detailed material early next year. That pause gives county staff and residents additional time to scrutinize engineering plans, water permitting, and utility interconnection proposals that will be central to determining whether the project is feasible and appropriate in that location.

For Morgan County residents the project matters for multiple reasons. The site is immediately adjacent to Waverly and local roads, meaning any traffic changes, construction noise and long term operational impacts would be felt locally. The investment size signals potential economic benefits in terms of construction spending and property tax contributions over time, but the notes from county meetings make clear that the immediate focus is on resource use. Data centers at this scale typically require substantial electrical infrastructure upgrades and reliable water sources for cooling, which can trigger additional grid investment and changes in local water management.

Policy choices at the county level will determine how those tradeoffs are managed. Engineering reviews, public hearings and careful permitting can reduce uncertainty for residents while identifying mitigation measures for noise, stormwater and water withdrawals. Conversely, a rushed approval process could generate legal challenges and community opposition that delay the project and add costs.

As the application moves through Sangamon County procedures, Morgan County residents should expect further public discussion in the coming months. The combination of a large capital investment and sizable resource demands means local officials will need detailed data on utility plans and environmental effects before weighing the long term benefits against potential community costs.