Linn County weighs nuclear exception to data center ban
The Linn County Planning and Zoning Commission is considering an exception to its recently enacted 18-month moratorium on new data center development. This exception would specifically allow data centers that support nuclear power production facilities, with discussion centered around the Duane Arnold nuclear facility and a potential Google data center.
The Linn County Planning and Zoning Commission is currently evaluating a potential exception to the county's 18-month moratorium on new data center developments. This moratorium was approved earlier this month by the Board of Supervisors.
The proposed exception would permit data centers that specifically support nuclear power production facilities. The discussion is closely tied to the potential restarting of the Duane Arnold nuclear facility. Commission members noted broad support for its restart, originally intended to supply power for a Google data center.
The Planning and Zoning Director highlighted the nuanced situation, stating that NextEra, the company involved with the power plant, has not definitively said they would not restart if the Google data center project doesn't proceed. However, it's clear that the power purchase agreement with Google is a key factor in making the restart cost-effective. The director emphasized that the future of the power plant, should the data center project not materialize, remains uncertain.
The commission's objective is to gather public input, with a draft ordinance for the exception possibly being presented at their next meeting on August 17th.