Linn County board to discuss data center moratorium
The Linn County Board of Supervisors in Iowa is set to discuss a proposed moratorium on large-scale data center development in unincorporated rural areas. If approved, the measure would pause new projects through 2027 to allow for evaluation among stakeholders. The moratorium would not impact two existing data center campuses under construction in Cedar Rapids.
The Linn County Board of Supervisors in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is scheduled to discuss a potential moratorium on large-scale data center developments in the county's unincorporated rural areas. Supervisors Sami Scheetz, Kirsten Running-Marquardt, and Brandy Meisheid will address the measure at an upcoming meeting.
Supervisor Kirsten Running-Marquardt stated that the proposal stems from increased interest in large-scale data center projects within rural Linn County. She emphasized the need for a pause due to the rapid pace and significant scale of these developments. The moratorium, if approved, would last until January 1, 2028, but could be adjusted at the board's discretion.
The proposed measure is intended to provide time for a "meaningful evaluation" of the topic among affected municipalities, utility providers, and regional planning organizations. It would specifically apply to areas outside established city limits and therefore would not impact two data center campuses currently under construction in southwest Cedar Rapids.