Linn County drops proposal to allow data centers in EU-2 zoning district
Linn County, Iowa, has decided not to proceed with a proposal that would have allowed large data centers to locate within its EU-2 zoning district, following unfavorable public feedback. This district currently governs nuclear and natural gas power generation facilities, and the proposal emerged after Google expressed interest in a data center near the Duane Arnold Energy Center. The county will continue to study data center impacts under an existing 18-month moratorium on new rezoning applications in its EU-3 district.
Linn County, Iowa, has abandoned a proposal to amend its EU-2 zoning district to permit large data centers, citing overwhelming public opposition. The EU-2 district, primarily designated for nuclear and natural gas power generation facilities in unincorporated areas, was considered for data center development following Google's proposal for a data center near the Duane Arnold Energy Center in Palo. NextEra Energy, the plant's majority owner, is actively seeking approval to restart the facility, which has been dormant since 2020.
Charlie Nichols, director of Linn County Planning and Development, confirmed that public feedback on the proposal was "unfavorable," despite general public support for the nuclear plant's restart. Residents raised concerns regarding unresolved issues from the county's existing data center moratorium, including water and power usage, land-use compatibility, environmental impacts, and long-term planning.
The decision by the Linn County Board of Supervisors to drop the proposal aligns with their ongoing efforts under an 18-month moratorium enacted in July on new large-scale data center rezoning applications in the county's EU-3 zoning district. This moratorium is intended to allow county officials to study zoning updates, conduct a water resources study, and evaluate the cumulative effects of data centers on local resources.
Supervisor Brandy Meisheid emphasized the importance of public input in the process, noting that while data centers could play a role in supporting the Duane Arnold Energy Center's restart, there was no broad public support for allowing them within the EU-2 district at this time. The county will continue to use the moratorium period to gather information and develop informed policies.