Ida County data center proposal: Path One presents plans, urges strong county rules
PathOne Data Centers presented conceptual plans for small-scale data centers in Ida County, Iowa, to the Board of Supervisors, advocating for strong county regulations. The county had previously enacted a moratorium on data center development to allow time to draft an ordinance addressing concerns like water use, noise, and environmental impact. PathOne emphasized its focus on smaller, industrially zoned facilities and a closed-loop water system.
PathOne Data Centers presented conceptual plans for 10-25 megawatt data centers to the Ida County Board of Supervisors, urging the county to establish robust regulations for future development. This presentation followed the Board's unanimous decision on June 30 to enact a moratorium on data center projects, a move prompted by learning that another unnamed company was already pursuing a project in the county without adequate protective ordinances in place. Chairman Devlun Whiteing confirmed that the moratorium successfully halted that prior development, highlighting the county's intention to learn from controversies in nearby Woodbury and Plymouth counties, including Salix.
Gyles Uhlenhopp, representing PathOne, clarified that the company is not currently proposing a specific project but is instead advocating for the county to develop comprehensive rules before any projects advance. PathOne's model focuses on smaller "edge data centers" (10-25 MW, 5-25 acres, 40,000 sq ft building, $100M-$150M cost), designed for heavy industrial zones to avoid displacing residential or agricultural land. Uhlenhopp detailed their patented closed-loop water system, which would use 350,000-700,000 gallons annually for a 10-megawatt facility, and emphasized reinforced sound barriers to maintain noise levels at or below 55 decibels.
Discussions at the meeting included potential sites like the former Quad County ethanol plant in Galva and a location near an ethanol plant in Arthur, both offering existing industrial zoning and electrical infrastructure. Whiteing expressed that while the county is not suitable for "super mega data centers" using millions of gallons of water daily, smaller facilities might be viable if a strong ordinance is codified. The county is considering capping data center sizes at 10-25 megawatts to deter larger developers and intends for the new ordinance to address water usage, electrical usage, environmental impact, noise, stormwater runoff, zoning, and setback requirements. The next steps involve gathering public input, consulting legal counsel, and drafting the ordinance, with PathOne also launching a community advisory council.