Lahn: Boost sales tax for water quality, pause data centers

Zach Lahn, an Iowa Republican gubernatorial candidate, has proposed a temporary statewide moratorium on new data centers if elected. In an interview with The Gazette, Lahn articulated concerns regarding the lack of a comprehensive state plan to understand data centers' long-term outlook, their impact on state resources, water consumption, and the efficacy of taxpayer-supported incentives, particularly in light of their low employment numbers. He emphasized that Iowans deserve a voice in the rapid expansion of the data center industry. Lahn's platform also includes advocating for the implementation of a voter-approved increase in the state sales tax by three-eighths of a cent. This funding would be directed towards the Iowa Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund to support water quality projects, a measure overwhelmingly approved by Iowa voters in 2010 but left unfunded by state lawmakers for 16 years. Lahn, who hails from Belle Plaine, is one of five Republican contenders in the Iowa gubernatorial race, with the primary election scheduled for June 2.