Linn County Will Not Move Forward with Changes to EU-2 Zoning District
The Linn County Board of Supervisors has decided not to proceed with proposed amendments to the EU-2 zoning district that would have allowed large data centers to co-locate with nuclear energy facilities. This decision follows extensive public feedback and aligns with the county's existing 18-month moratorium on new data center rezoning applications. Residents expressed concerns regarding water, power, environmental impacts, and land-use compatibility.
The Linn County Board of Supervisors has opted not to advance proposed changes to the County's EU-2 (Exclusive Use-Two) zoning district, which would have permitted large data centers to be situated alongside nuclear energy facilities. This decision comes after significant public input received during a July 20, 2026, Planning & Zoning Commission meeting, where residents voiced concerns about water, power grid capacity, land-use compatibility, and environmental impacts related to data centers.
Supervisor Brandy Meisheid highlighted that while the community supports nuclear energy and recognizes the potential role of data centers in the proposed restart of the Duane Arnold Energy Center, there was a clear lack of broad public support for allowing these co-located data centers in the EU-2 district. The Board confirmed that it will continue to utilize the county's existing 18-month moratorium on new large-scale data center rezoning applications in the EU-3 district to gather more information, evaluate potential impacts, and develop informed policies. This moratorium was approved on July 1, 2026, to allow time for studies on zoning updates, water resources, and the County's Comprehensive Plan, alongside collaboration with utility providers and neighboring communities. The Planning & Development Director, Charlie Nichols, clarified that the public consultation aimed to ascertain whether EU-2 amendments for data centers enabling nuclear power should precede the moratorium's end.