Ames council pauses data-center approvals, orders timeline and advisory input

The Ames City Council on July 28 adopted a temporary pause on new data-center approvals and directed staff to produce a timeline and report addressing 12 specific questions raised at a June 30 public input session and in prior council discussion. Mayor John Halah said staff were "estimating approximately 6 months to accomplish what council had previously given direction to."

Halah said council did not want an open-ended moratorium but a more specific schedule for staff work and public engagement. "Let's not just talk about this 1 project, let's talk about this concept in general," he said, noting the council asked staff to pursue the 12 items listed in the council action form and to add four or five additional topics that surfaced during the meeting. The council also asked staff to consider forming an advisory committee to provide specialized technical input that staff may lack.

The pause was set through 05/01/2027 to allow time for ordinance updates, design guidelines and other policy changes that could result from the staff work and public input. Halah said the pause could be shortened or extended depending on how quickly staff and any advisory committee complete the requested work. He also reminded listeners that the council and staff are balancing the data-center process against other priorities on staff’s workload.

The council discussed interest from a company, Lightedge, as a catalyst for the conversation but emphasized the policy work is intended to address data centers generally — and potentially any large utility users — rather than only a single proposal. The council asked that staff return with reports, public input opportunities and specific recommendations before final ordinance changes are considered.