Linn County won't amend zoning districts for data center

News Clip0:24We Are Iowa Local 5 News·Linn County, IA·8/11/2026

The Linn County Board of Supervisors decided against amending zoning districts that would have allowed a large-scale data center near the Duane Arnold Energy Center. This decision came as a data center proposed restarting the nuclear facility, but a supervisor emphasized the importance of community support.

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Gov: Linn County Board of Supervisors

The Linn County Board of Supervisors has rejected a proposal to amend zoning districts that would have facilitated the development of a large-scale data center near the Duane Arnold Energy Center. These proposed changes were directly linked to a data center's initiative to potentially restart the nuclear energy facility, which is located near Palo.

According to one county supervisor, while acknowledging that a data center could play a vital role in the nuclear facility's reactivation, the board's decision was influenced by the need to ensure the community's support. This refusal to amend zoning districts effectively creates a significant hurdle for the data center's proposed development in the specified area, pending any new proposals or changes.