VILLAGE OF MAHOMET APPROACHED BY DATA CENTER DEVELOPER
(MAHOMET, Ill, - - September 28, 2026) The Village of Mahomet has been approached by Clean Cloud Energy about their interest in a potential development of a data center campus in a rural area west of Champaign and has engaged in preliminary discussions, including draft language of a possible development agreement.
A data center development could provide significant economic benefits to Mahomet and the surrounding area. Potential benefits include expansion of the local property-tax base by shifting focus away from residential burdens, construction jobs and permanent employment opportunities which will provide an economic boost to the area, additional resources for local taxing districts, including the school district and library, and supporting infrastructure improvements that may provide broader community benefits.
As with any significant development proposal, the potential benefits must be carefully and objectively considered alongside the potential impacts on the community. The Village will conduct its due diligence and evaluate any proposal with Mahomet's long-term interests in mind before determining whether a potential agreement should advance for public consideration.
“The Village has a responsibility to consider economic-development opportunities that could strengthen our tax base and support the long-term financial health of our community,” Mayor Jason S. Tompkins said. “At the same time, the size and nature of this proposal require careful and thoughtful evaluation. We must fully understand its infrastructure needs, financial benefits, environmental considerations and effects on residents before making any decision. The public will have opportunities to review any officially submitted proposal, ask questions and provide comments to the Planning and Zoning Commission and, ultimately, the Village Board.” Tompkins said any evaluation of a proposal from the village would certainly focus on potential areas of public concerns like a location away from residential areas, protecting the Mahomet Aquifer including the requirement of a closed loop cooling system, and light and noise mitigation.
Because the area under consideration is currently outside the Village limits but within Mahomet’s Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ), the Village has certain planning and subdivision authority involving the property. As a result, the Village has an important role in discussions regarding any potential development of the site.
To be clear, discussions to date have been strictly preliminary and exploratory. No formal proposal has been submitted to or presented before the Village of Mahomet Board of Trustees, and there are currently no plans for the Board to take formal action on this matter. If a formal proposal is submitted in the future, it will proceed through the Village’s normal public review and approval process. Any official consideration will be publicly announced in accordance with the Village’s established public notice procedures and, when applicable, will include opportunities for public input and a public hearing before any formal action is taken.