Logan Prairie Data Center

Logan County has underutilized high-voltage transmission lines and nearby substations that can support a project like this, assets many communities don’t have. Combined with a skilled local workforce and a central Midwest location, the area presents a strong fit for a large, long-term facility.

This data center also represents a significant proposed private investment and potential addition to the county’s tax base. By locating here and using existing infrastructure, the project is expected to meaningfully expand and diversify local tax revenues over the long term.

This project represents an estimated $5B+ private investment and is expected to generate significant economic activity in the area.

Construction is projected to create approximately 1,500 construction jobs over an estimated 18-month period. Hut 8 has committed to the Central Illinois Building & Construction Trades Council to prioritize qualified local labor for construction roles.

At full buildout, the facility is expected to support up to 200 permanent jobs, including operations, technical, security, and engineering positions. These are skilled, long-term roles that help keep the facility running every day. Many of these positions are expected to offer wages meaningfully above the county median based on 2023 U.S. Census Bureau data.

Once the facility is completed and its value is officially determined by the county, the facility is expected to become the largest property taxpayer in the county. Based on economic impact analysis prepared by Strategic Economic Research, LLC (SER) using 2023 certified county valuation data and project inputs provided by Hut 8, the facility could generate an estimated average of up to $65 million per year in property tax revenue over a 30-year period. Actual tax payments will depend on final design, construction costs, official assessment, and applicable tax rates.

In addition to jobs and tax revenue, we are discussing potential support for first responders, workforce training initiatives, regional schools, and other local priorities. Any such commitments would be defined through formal agreements with local leaders and incorporated into applicable permits or development agreements.

This project is not expected to raise residential electric bills.

Before the facility can be energized, Ameren Illinois and MISO must complete formal interconnection and system impact studies to confirm the system can reliably serve the project alongside existing customers. If those studies identify project-specific upgrades needed to maintain reliability, Hut 8—not residential or farm customers—will fund the costs assigned to the project under applicable rules.

Residential rates are set through a regulated process and are driven primarily by broader factors such as fuel costs, weather, regional market conditions, and regulatory decisions—not by any single new customer. Hut 8 will purchase power under the competitive supply framework used for large industrial customers, which is separate from the regulated residential rate structure. This protection isolates residential customers from cost shifting and market volatility, creating price stability.

Before the project can operate, Ameren and the regional grid operator must certify through formal study processes that the system can reliably serve both existing customers and this facility. If reliability standards cannot be met, the project would not proceed unless required upgrades are completed.

During grid emergencies, homes and critical services are protected first. Large industrial customers, including facilities of this nature, are curtailed before residential customers.

The facility is designed to use a closed-loop cooling system that recirculates water through sealed piping. After the initial system fill, the same water is reused for approximately four to seven years. There is no ongoing daily water consumption for cooling.

No local water will be used for cooling. The system is not designed to draw from local wells or the Mahomet Aquifer. Cooling water will be trucked in from water-abundant areas outside Logan County. The cooling loop is fully contained and fluid is not released into the ground.

Local water usage is expected to be limited to everyday domestic needs like restrooms, sinks, and limited landscaping, and is projected to be comparable to that of a standard office building, or up to approximately 9,000 gallons per day. Final usage would be capped and monitored through county permitting.

Cooling water is not connected to the sanitary or septic system and is not discharged into the soil. Any wastewater generated onsite would be typical sanitary wastewater routed to an onsite septic system and handled in accordance with state and county regulations. Stormwater would be managed under established regulatory standards to protect surrounding farmland.

When cooling water eventually requires replacement, it would be managed and disposed of through licensed and compliant third-party providers in accordance with applicable regulations. It would never be disposed of onsite.

We are working with local drainage engineers and experts to identify and map existing subsurface farm drainage systems. If adjustments are required during construction, affected systems would be repaired or rerouted so current drainage patterns are maintained or improved.

The facility is designed to operate quietly. As part of the permitting process, we are working with the county to establish enforceable noise limits and plan to implement sound mitigation measures such as barriers to mitigate any site-related noise.

Lighting would be downward-facing and engineered to minimize glare and light spill beyond the property boundary. Buffer areas, landscaping, and setbacks around the property would further limit visibility from nearby homes.

No. This facility is being designed and permitted as a data center intended to support cloud computing or artificial intelligence workloads. It is not proposed or designed for cryptocurrency mining.

If approved, this project would operate under enforceable conditions incorporated into the Conditional Use Permit. Those conditions are enforced by the county, not by Hut 8.

If we fail to meet permit conditions, the county has the authority to require corrective action and pursue enforcement remedies. In serious cases, the permit can be revoked.

Specific operating limits and requirements would be defined in writing through the permitting process.

As part of the Conditional Use Permit process, the company anticipates working with the county to establish appropriate decommissioning and financial assurance mechanisms. These may include a bond or similar instrument to ensure that, in the event of permanent closure, funds would be available to decommission the facility and restore the property in accordance with county requirements.

Such mechanisms are designed to provide financial protection so responsibility would not fall on the county or local taxpayers.

This proposal remains in the early stages and has not been approved. It must complete zoning review, receive required permits, and complete applicable utility and grid power studies before construction could begin.

If required approvals are not granted, the project would not move forward.

If approved, early site preparation or utility work could begin after permits are issued.

If approved, construction is expected to take approximately 18 months. Construction activity would occur during defined working hours in accordance with applicable county requirements.

Traffic impact studies are being completed to assess how construction traffic could affect local roads. If the studies identify issues, Hut 8 would be required to implement measures to reduce impacts, including entering into a Road Use Agreement outlining roadway improvements and safety requirements.

After construction, daily traffic is expected to be limited.