At least eight Iowa counties now have data center moratoriums in place.
Linn County’s Board of Supervisors is the latest to enact one, for unincorporated areas of the county, and it will last for 18 months. Jenny Kellison of Fairfax is among those who called on county officials to press pause. “It is an opportunity to determine whether the rapid expansion of data centers and the infrastructure they require, including massive power plants…truly align with the future Linn County residents want,” Kellison said.
Michael Sadler of Center Point said a moratorium is “silly and unwarranted” because the world is not going back to life before the internet. “If it is the case that you’re completely opposed to data centers, turn off your computer, your cell phone, your laptop, your iPad and any other electronic device you use every day,” Sadler said…