Woodbury County Supervisors Approve Data Center Moratorium
Woodbury County Supervisors have approved a 12-month moratorium on new data center applications within unincorporated areas due to citizen concerns. The decision also directs the Zoning Commission to review current zoning ordinances for industrial data centers and hold public meetings. This action follows MidAmerican Energy considering a data center site in the area and the Town of Salix annexing farmland.
Woodbury County Supervisors in Iowa unanimously approved a 12-month moratorium on new data center applications within the county's unincorporated areas. The decision, made on Tuesday, followed extensive public comments both for and against data center development, driven by citizen concerns.
In addition to the moratorium, the Board directed the Woodbury County Zoning Commission to review existing zoning ordinances concerning industrial data centers and to conduct public meetings for proposed changes. This move comes after the Town of Salix voluntarily annexed 900 acres of farmland in April, a site that MidAmerican Energy had confirmed it was considering for a data center project, sparking local debate.