Iowa Organizations Warn State Is Unprepared for Rapid Data Center Growth
The Sierra Club Iowa Chapter and allied organizations are warning that rapid data center growth could increase electricity demand, fossil fuel use, water stress, pollution and heat impacts. Jefferson and Lee counties are considering data center ordinances, while Des Moines County and Missouri's Ralls County have moratoriums in place.
The Sierra Club Iowa Chapter, Physicians for Social Responsibility and Common Good Iowa are urging officials to slow the expansion of data centers, arguing that communities lack transparency about projects and could bear higher infrastructure costs and environmental risks. Sierra Club representative Jessica Mozer called for rate protections, a study of Iowa's aquifers, closed-loop cooling systems, limits on nondisclosure agreements and a statewide database of data centers.
The groups also warned that rising data center power demand could increase reliance on fossil fuel generation, worsening air pollution and public health risks while undermining Iowa's renewable energy transition. They cited potential local heat-island effects and broader environmental impacts. Jefferson and Lee counties are considering data center ordinances, and Des Moines County in Iowa and Ralls County in Missouri have enacted moratoriums, according to the report.