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Henry County committee approves 12-month moratorium on new data centers
Summary
The Henry County Planning & Development Committee approved a 12-month moratorium on new data center projects on June 9, 2026, to allow study of water, energy and farmland impacts; the vote carried with one member absent.
The Henry County Planning & Development Committee voted June 9 to place a temporary 12-month moratorium on new data center projects to allow more study, modeling and public review of potential impacts. Joseph Garrity moved to approve the moratorium and Kathy Nelson seconded; the motion carried with all voting members in favor and Kippy Breeden absent for the vote.
The Department recommended the moratorium to provide time to evaluate energy and water usage, setbacks and risks to productive farmland before the county accepts, approves or endorses new data center proposals. Public commenters supported a proactive approach: Linda Grant, a Kewanee-area resident, urged protections for farmland and water, and Dustin Williams thanked the committee for seeking "meaningful protections" for potential data center projects.
The moratorium text included a 12-month pause on acceptance, approval or endorsement of new data center projects while the county conducts research and public review. The committee tentatively scheduled follow-up work and additional public outreach during that period; no specific timeline for staff reports or public hearings was recorded in the minutes.
