U.S. Energy Secretary tours QTS data center, addresses utility, water concerns

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright visited the QTS data center construction site in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to address local concerns surrounding the project's impact. The visit follows residents' apprehension since the City of Cedar Rapids announced QTS would build the data center near the Eastern Iowa Airport. Secretary Wright specifically tackled worries that data centers might escalate utility rates. While acknowledging that such increases have occurred in the past, he expressed confidence that the QTS data center would not cause a rise, suggesting a potential future decline in electricity prices due to similar large-scale developments. He also spoke on water consumption, highlighting QTS's use of a closed-loop cooling system, which significantly reduces water usage by recirculating it. Wright emphasized that this design makes the facility a minimal water consumer. Utility provider Alliant Energy stated it is not constructing new power plants solely for this data center, but will expand infrastructure to meet increasing demand. Alliant Energy plans to build a gas-fired power plant in Linn County, near the data center, which raises further questions about energy infrastructure. QTS has affirmed its commitment to paying 100% of its data centers' energy needs, having signed onto the White House ’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge.