Data center developer is ready to ride out Marshalltown’s moratorium
The Marshalltown City Council in Iowa enacted a four-month moratorium on data center construction following a proposal by Swarm Systems for a $350-million data center. Swarm Systems CEO Amir Atefi plans to proceed with land acquisition once the moratorium expires in late November. The company intends to assess existing infrastructure and collaborate with Alliant Energy to support their project's load.
Marshalltown, Iowa, is grappling with data center development as its City Council recently enacted a four-month moratorium on construction. This decision came shortly after Amir Atefi, CEO of Swarm Systems, presented a proposal for a $350-million data center project.
Despite the moratorium, which is set to expire in late November, Atefi has expressed his company's readiness to move forward with purchasing the land. He acknowledged the City Council's decision to delay land sale proceedings until the moratorium is lifted, stating his respect for their choice. Mayor Mike Ladehoff indicated that while Swarm Systems' initial land offer expired without council action, he believes negotiations are not over.
City council member Greg Nichols endorsed Atefi, citing positive feedback from the mayor of Elk Grove, Illinois, regarding Atefi's past projects. Swarm Systems plans to conduct necessary research on existing infrastructure to ensure it can support their large energy demands and will engage with Alliant Energy for these assessments once land acquisition is possible.