Volunteers needed for Linn County's Data Center Advisory Committee
Linn County is seeking residents to serve on a volunteer Data Center Advisory Committee that will review regulations for large-scale data centers. The committee was created as part of the county’s 18-month moratorium on new large-scale data centers in unincorporated areas and will advise the Linn County Board of Supervisors on possible code changes.
Linn County, Iowa, is accepting applications for a 20- to 25-member Data Center Advisory Committee that will examine whether existing zoning rules adequately address large-scale data center development. The committee will include county residents, representatives from cities in Linn County, and members of the Johnson and Benton county boards of supervisors, with the full group potentially reaching 40 participants.
The advisory panel was established after the Linn County Board of Supervisors approved an 18-month moratorium on new large-scale data centers in unincorporated Linn County on July 1. It is expected to meet up to eight times at the Linn County Public Service Center in Cedar Rapids from December 2026 through June 2027, focusing on energy and grid infrastructure, water resources, siting, planning, and zoning. Supervisor Brandy Meisheid said the process is intended to slow development, gather public input, and develop regulations that reflect regional concerns.