Majority of Clinton City Council vote down data center moratorium
The Clinton City Council voted down a proposed 120-day moratorium on data center development, despite hours of public comment largely urging its enactment. The decision followed a contentious meeting where council members debated the process and the message it would send to potential developers like QTS.
The Clinton City Council rejected a proposed 120-day moratorium on data center development during its June 9th meeting, despite public comment from 52 speakers, with nearly all urging the council to enact the moratorium. Councilwoman Janet Turpen, who championed the moratorium, expressed frustration after a series of votes led to its defeat. Council members, including Cody Seely, argued that a moratorium would signal Clinton was "closed for business" to companies like Quality Technology Services (QTS), the developer for the proposed project.
Residents, such as Theresa Andrews, voiced concerns about the project's impact on public health, the environment, and the temporary nature of job creation, questioning if financial gains would outweigh these costs. Stephen Figg, a former data center worker, challenged QTS's claims of minimal water usage for its "closed-loop system," stating that hyperscale facilities can evaporate millions of gallons daily and create few long-term local jobs. Conversely, resident Joe Hoinkis supported the development, citing significant financial benefits for the community, including tax revenue for schools and infrastructure, and positive experiences visiting a QTS data center in Cedar Rapids.
Representatives from utility companies, Cheri Monahan of ITC Midwest and Kiley Miller of Alliant Energy, argued that large energy loads from data centers drive economic activity, spread fixed transmission costs across more customers, and improve grid reliability. Scott Hinton of Iowa American Water stated the proposed data center would use less than 1% of the city's current water treatment capacity. Ian Buschbom from M.J. Electric highlighted potential long-term job opportunities in data center maintenance and upgrades.
The proposed QTS facility in Clinton is described as a 5-million-square-foot, 1,000-acre project estimated to cost $10 billion. Councilwoman Turpen also raised concerns about QTS's past activities, referencing controversies in Fayetteville, Georgia, involving alleged clean water violations and unpaid water usage, as well as ongoing litigation in Virginia over notice failures for a mega-development. Council members noted that QTS has not yet submitted a site plan, and any development would require future approval from both the council and the city planning commission.