Ames City Council Delays Decision on Lightedge Data Center Amid Opposition
A proposed 10.86-acre data center by Lightedge in Ames, Iowa, has faced significant community opposition, spearheaded by the Democratic Socialists of America. Following protests and public outcry, the Ames City Council voted to implement a nine-month delay on the final decision, allowing for further research and public input. Activists hope this delay will lead to a complete ban on data centers within city limits.
A proposed 10.86-acre data center by Lightedge in Ames, Iowa, has faced significant community opposition since its announcement on June 12. The Ames City Council began discussing the project on June 23, holding a public listening session on June 30 where 81% of attendees opposed the development.
Following a protest organized by the Heart of Iowa Chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) on July 14, the City Council confirmed a nine-month delay on the final decision regarding the data center. This delay, confirmed at a July 28 meeting, aims to allow for proper research into the project's potential environmental and economic impacts on Ames and to gather further community input.
Aaron Lynch, membership and outreach coordinator for the Heart of Iowa DSA, highlighted the broad, cross-political spectrum opposition to data centers, citing concerns about their extractive nature on public land, electricity grids, and waterways. He specifically noted Lightedge's proposal would consume nearly three times the electricity of Ames' largest current consumer. The DSA hopes the research period will culminate in the City Council exercising its confirmed legal authority to completely ban data centers within city limits, a measure supported by 78% of their petition signers.