Des Moines County supervisors weigh moratorium and zoning options for data centers and high-utility projects

Des Moines County supervisors spent an extended work session discussing whether to impose a temporary moratorium and how to regulate large-scale, high-utility industrial projects such as data centers and commercial cryptocurrency mining. The conversation centered on three options: extend zoning beyond the county's 2-mile jurisdiction, adopt a standalone home-rule industrial ordinance, or use a narrowly tailored moratorium while drafting regulations.

The meeting opened with staff background: county planning staff reviewed prior work on wind and solar regulation and explained that the county's current zoning authority covers only the 2-mile areas around incorporated cities, which limits where zoning rules take effect. Jared, a planning/land-use staffer, summarized examples from other Iowa counties that have adopted standalone ordinances for wind/solar or data centers and noted the legal and procedural tradeoffs of each approach (Jared).

Several supervisors cautioned that regulating a single industrial category outside a comprehensive zoning framework risks inconsistency and legal challenge. One supervisor argued that regulating "industry" wholesale without clarifying residential and commercial rules could create inequities for property owners and lead to court challenges.

Public commenters urged swift action. Allison Moriarity noted an Iowa Supreme Court decision favoring Worth County over Worthwhile Wind and asked the board to reopen its ordinance to establish setbacks to preserve a designated MedForce landing zone near Yarmouth (Allison Moriarity). Multiple residents raised concerns about utility and water use: speakers said large data centers can draw millions of gallons per day for cooling, stressing groundwater and local infrastructure, and that closed-loop cooling still requires substantial energy and infrastructure (Brian T., Linda Schneider, SEG 2330, SEG 2576).

Board members and staff discussed scope and enforceability. Options under consideration included: (1) countywide zoning (requiring a comprehensive plan update and public process), (2) a narrow home-rule industrial ordinance that would require notice and board approval for large industrial uses, and (3) an interim moratorium enacted by resolution for a defined period (90 days to one year) while staff draft a regulatory approach. Staff noted the Worth County decision supports the use of moratoria while a jurisdiction develops legislation, but cautioned that moratoria must be written to be enforceable and to limit unintended consequences for existing businesses.

Several supervisors favored a targeted moratorium limited to data centers and commercial cryptocurrency mining or to projects exceeding defined thresholds for electricity or water consumption, rather than a blanket ban on all industrial activity. One supervisor asked staff to prepare draft moratorium language for the board to consider at a future meeting; staff agreed to prepare sample language and options (staff direction: prepare moratorium language).

The discussion ended with an agreement to return with proposed moratorium resolution language and regulatory options; supervisors suggested examining other counties' definitions (for example, Linn County's data-center language) to ensure cryptocurrency mining is included if intended. The session closed with the board directing staff to bring back draft moratorium text and ordinance options for review.

What happens next: staff will draft moratorium language and a set of regulatory options that could include narrowly defined utility- and water-use thresholds, a home-rule industrial ordinance, or steps toward a county-wide zoning approach. The board left the matter open for further study and possible action at a future meeting.