Salix council clarifies no data center moratorium in place, approves MOU with Google
The Salix City Council voted 3-2 to clarify that no data center moratorium is in effect, rescinding any moratorium that may have been inadvertently created. The council also approved a cost-reimbursement memorandum of understanding with Google for independent studies of a potential data center’s environmental, infrastructure, traffic and noise impacts.
The Salix City Council voted 3-2 to affirm that the city has not adopted a moratorium blocking data center construction. The action followed confusion over an earlier motion by council member Gene Monk that the mayor said did not create a moratorium; the new resolution formally rescinds any such measure.
The council separately approved a memorandum of understanding with Google under which the company would reimburse up to $150,000 for independent advisors and impact studies. Google said it would not draw cooling water from the Dakota Aquifer and that studies would examine water and wastewater, endangered species, traffic and noise.
A potential project on roughly 900 acres of annexed land remains uncertain because the landowners have not sold the property to Google, MidAmerican or another party. City officials and Google are also discussing a possible tour for Salix residents and council members of an existing Google data center in Iowa.