Osceola County engineer provides data center definition, impacts
Osceola County, Iowa, is moving to amend its zoning code to include specific requirements for data centers, as the current code lacks any related ordinances. This initiative follows a public hearing where County Engineer Keith Brann outlined the significant impacts of data centers on land, water, electricity, and noise. A new public hearing has been set to further discuss the proposed zoning ordinance amendments.
The Osceola County Board of Supervisors in Sibley, Iowa, held a public hearing to discuss amending the county's zoning ordinance to specifically address data centers. County Engineer Keith Brann highlighted that the current zoning code has no explicit definitions or regulations for data centers, creating ambiguity.
Brann emphasized the substantial impacts of data centers, including their immense land footprint, significant water usage (equivalent to 25,000 homes for a mega data center), and high electricity consumption (comparable to 100,000 homes for air-cooled facilities). Concerns also include constant noise and localized temperature increases, which have led to increased utility bills for residents in other areas. Brann noted that while data centers offer tax revenue and construction profits, their utility demands are a major public concern. He proposed that data centers should be permitted in heavy industrial zones, but also noted that Osceola County currently lacks an industrial area large enough to support such a facility, meaning a rezone would be required for any future project.
Despite the absence of current applications for data centers in Osceola County, the proactive move aims to establish clear guidelines. The supervisors have scheduled another public hearing for June 9 at 9 a.m. to further discuss and potentially amend the zoning ordinance.