Sioux County discusses proposed data center
Sioux County officials and residents discussed a proposed data center by PathOne Data Centers at the former Bison Renewable Energy plant, two weeks after the county passed a one-year moratorium on data center construction. PathOne representatives addressed concerns regarding water usage, electricity, and community impact, emphasizing their focus on brownfield sites and responsible development. Supervisors underscored the need for specific answers on potential impacts before any decisions are made.
Sioux County, Iowa, is seeing renewed discussions regarding data center development following a proposal from PathOne Data Centers. This comes shortly after the Sioux County Board of Supervisors enacted a one-year moratorium on data center and industrial battery storage facility construction on June 16. The moratorium aims to provide the county zoning department with time to draft a comprehensive ordinance to regulate such facilities.
PathOne Data Centers, represented by Nate Hotzler, Gyles Uhlenhopp, and Jesse Rognes, presented plans to build a 30,000-50,000 square foot data center at the former Bison Renewable Energy plant near Highway 75. The company, a new venture based out of Des Moines, focuses on redeveloping brownfield sites and partnering with existing facilities like ethanol plants. PathOne claims its approach utilizes newer, closed-loop technologies and aims to reduce environmental impacts, specifically regarding water and electricity consumption, which are common public concerns.
During the meeting, North West Rural Electric Cooperative general manager Lyle Korver shared his experience with smaller data centers in nearby counties, noting that the proposed site at the former Bison plant already possesses a substation with 20-25 megawatts of unused capacity, making it an ideal location for the project's energy needs. However, supervisors, including Carl Vande Weerd and Craig Hoftyzer, voiced strong concerns about the unknowns, pressing PathOne for specific details on water usage, noise, and economic benefits, and stressing the importance of transparency and community engagement.
PathOne representatives acknowledged the moratorium was not ideal for their project but expressed understanding, indicating a willingness to collaborate with the county on the ordinance. They emphasized tax revenues and the redevelopment of an abandoned site as key benefits. No decisions were made during this discussion, and PathOne plans to return with more detailed answers from their head of technology to address the supervisors' and community's questions.