Substantial opposition to data centers voiced in Woodbury County zoning meeting
Residents in Woodbury County, Iowa, voiced substantial opposition to proposed data centers during a zoning commission meeting in Moville. Concerns included the disruption of rural living and high water consumption. The meeting gathered input on an ongoing 12-month moratorium on data center development in unincorporated areas of the county.
More than 140 residents attended a Woodbury County Zoning Commission meeting in Moville, Iowa, on September 21, 2026, to express their views on potential data center developments. The majority of speakers voiced strong opposition, citing concerns that data centers would detract from rural living and consume significant amounts of water. Initial speakers unanimously opposed the projects, leading Woodbury County Zoning Commission Chairwoman Christine Zellmer Zant to encourage others, including those with positive views, to speak.
Keely Bassette Purcell urged the commission to reject data center proposals, while Doug Leckband of Moville publicly asked for positive viewpoints to be shared, though few emerged. Pam Clark advocated for preserving productive agricultural land over converting it to industrial zoning. One speaker also highlighted the limited number of long-term jobs created by data centers once construction is complete.
The meeting was the second of three sessions held by the Woodbury County Zoning Commission to collect public input on an existing 12-month moratorium on data center development in the county's unincorporated areas. Woodbury County Community & Economic Development Director Dan Priestly opened the meeting, acknowledging the high national "temperature" surrounding data centers. A third meeting is scheduled for Salix on November 9. Separately, the Salix City Council declined to implement its own moratorium on a possible data center in August, the same month Google announced it was in early stages of evaluating a site in Salix for a new facility.