Ames City Council to Discuss Electric Rate Increases and Data Center Impact Committee Appointments
The Ames City Council will consider a proposed electric rate increase and appoint members to a committee studying the environmental and other impacts of data centers. This committee will investigate potential effects on human health, wildlife, water, energy use, noise, and localized temperatures, following a delay on a proposed Lightedge data center until May 2027.
The Ames City Council is set to convene Tuesday to address several key municipal matters, including a proposed 2.5% increase in electric rates. This increase, affecting residential, commercial, and industrial customers, is directly linked to the escalated cost of the Ames Municipal Energy Center, which has nearly doubled from an initial estimate of $84 million to $192 million. City financial advisers have recommended these annual 2.5% rate hikes for the next 18 years, a revision from the previously planned 1.5% increases.
In parallel, the council will move forward with appointing 15 residents to a newly established committee. This committee is tasked with studying the potential impacts of data centers on various aspects, including human health, wildlife, water resources, energy consumption, noise pollution, and localized temperatures. This development follows the council's decision to delay a ruling on the proposed Lightedge data center project near the Ames Municipal Airport until May 2027, indicating a cautious approach to data center expansion in the city. The committee received 54 applications from interested residents.