Iowa residents raise health and environmental concerns over data center expansion
Iowa residents, including people in Woodward, are raising health and environmental concerns about the state’s expanding data center industry. Residents recently learned of a proposed 600-acre data center in Woodward, while health experts warned that increased fossil-fuel-powered electricity generation could worsen air pollution and related health risks.
Residents in Woodward, Iowa, are voicing concerns about a proposed 600-acre data center and its potential effects on the community. The concerns include environmental impacts and the health consequences of the additional energy demand associated with large data center facilities.
During a briefing hosted by the Sierra Club, Brian Campbell, executive director of Physicians for Social Responsibility, said data centers’ increased reliance on fossil-fuel-powered electricity could contribute to toxic air pollution. He cited potential links to cardiovascular problems, cognitive decline, cancer, adverse birth outcomes and premature death, while acknowledging that Iowa has hosted data centers for years and that the scale of newer facilities is driving the debate.