Clinton to consider ordinance on proposed data center project

The Clinton City Council is preparing for a special committee meeting on September 1 to discuss a proposed data center development and a draft ordinance aimed at establishing clear regulations for data centers within the City of Clinton, Iowa. The project, proposed by QTS (Quality Technology Services), involves building an AI-driven data center campus on 1,000 acres north of U.S. Highway 30.

The proposal has sparked considerable debate, with community members raising concerns about potential health issues, high power and water consumption, increased industrial noise, light pollution, heat generation, and air quality impacts. In June, a council meeting addressing a proposed moratorium on the data center saw about 60 speakers, most of whom supported a 120-day moratorium or immediate rejection of the project, though the moratorium effort ultimately failed.

QTS has emphasized that the proposed campus represents a multibillion-dollar investment, promising thousands of construction jobs and hundreds of long-term careers, along with contributions to local projects. Andy Sokolovich, president and CEO of Grow Clinton, presented letters of support from mayors in other Iowa communities that have benefited from data center investments, such as Altoona, Waukee, and West Des Moines.

Clinton Mayor Scott Maddasion has stated that the project is still in its early stages and would require public hearings and a council vote. The upcoming meeting will allow the council to learn more about the project, review the ordinance, and gather feedback from both opponents and supporters.