Des Moines County Officials Questioned on Bitcoin Mine, Data Center Moratorium
AUR Middletown LLC is seeking clarification from Des Moines County, Iowa, regarding a newly enacted moratorium affecting its bitcoin mine and proposed data center expansion. Local officials and residents are expressing concerns about the project's potential strain on electricity and water resources. A work session is planned to discuss the issue.
AUR Middletown LLC, which operates a bitcoin mine along Highway 34 in Des Moines County, Iowa, has requested clarification from the Des Moines County Board of Supervisors regarding a recently implemented moratorium on such facilities. CEO JohnPaul Baric indicated the company plans a 25MW expansion and is actively pursuing an AI/high-performance-compute tenant for the property, which could involve hundreds of millions in capital investment. This potential development has raised significant concerns among county officials and residents, particularly regarding the demand on local electricity and water resources.
Assistant County Land Use Administrator Jarred Lassiter faced scrutiny for not informing the board earlier about AUR Middletown's inquiries regarding zoning for a bitcoin mine in 2024, stating such contact falls outside the board's direct consultation unless it requires specific zoning commission action or is within the two-mile zone around Burlington. Des Moines County Public Health Director Christa Poggemiller and Conservation Director Chris Lee highlighted the lack of state infrastructure for monitoring industrial water usage and the potential legal complexities of implementing such requirements.
Supervisors, including Tom Broeker, are planning a future work session with AUR Middletown LLC to discuss these issues. The county recently completed work on a broader ordinance governing renewable energy facilities, and the supervisors' next regular meeting is scheduled for June 9.