‘Its own little town’: What happens when a data center moves into a community?
Meta's hyperscale data center in Altoona, Iowa, has had a mixed impact on the community since its development in 2013, with some residents finding it a good tenant and economic driver, while others cite traffic disruption. The facility consumes significant amounts of water and electricity, prompting long-term environmental concerns from state officials, even as city leaders seek further expansion.
Meta's hyperscale data center in Altoona, Iowa, has significantly transformed the local landscape since its establishment in 2013, described by some as "its own little town." While some residents, like Jim Byers, a local business owner, view the data center as a "good tenant" and a "great financial boon" for the community due to sales tax and construction jobs, others express concerns. Altoona resident Marilyn Hupfeld notes increased traffic and disruption from continuous construction, prompting her desire to move.
Altoona Mayor Dean O'Connor highlights the data center's role in attracting other industries, such as Wisconsin metal manufacturer Robinson Co., which expanded to Altoona due to Meta's presence. O'Connor is actively encouraging Meta to build more, viewing data centers as crucial for future innovation and jobs. He contrasts Altoona's initial welcoming of Meta with the current dynamic in communities like Dubuque County, where developers now face greater scrutiny, public outcry, and demands for new ordinances before securing deals.
Environmental data indicates that Meta's Altoona data center used nearly 64 million gallons of water and approximately 1.6 million megawatt-hours of electricity in 2024. Michael Anderson, a senior environmental engineer for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, expressed long-term concerns about water scarcity despite the immediate availability from the aquifer. The opaque nature of data center water usage, often managed through municipal systems rather than state permits, makes comprehensive tracking challenging for state officials.