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Des Moines County supervisors ask staff to draft moratorium on data centers, crypto mining
Summary
After lengthy public comment raising concerns about water, power and local impacts, the Des Moines County Board directed staff to draft moratorium language (targeting data centers/crypto mining or focused industrial uses) and return with a proposed resolution for consideration.
Des Moines County supervisors on May 12 directed county legal and planning staff to prepare draft moratorium language aimed at pausing new data center and commercial cryptocurrency mining projects while the county studies potential regulations. The board’s request followed hours of public comment raising concerns about water withdrawals, electric load and impacts to existing services and farmland.
Jared Glasser, the county’s planning representative, explained the county’s zoning history and options, and said Linn County’s recent data-center zoning amendment could be a model. “There was at least one or two examples… counties taking the standalone ordinance approach,” he said, describing differences between overlay zoning within the 2-mile area and countywide home-rule ordinances. Supervisors and legal staff discussed home-rule ordinances, special-use permits and expanding the A-1 zoning category as possible approaches.
Residents urged caution. One audience member noted that a nearby county-approved data center was permitted to withdraw “3 to 5,000,000 gallons of water per day” and asked how that would affect wells and municipal supplies. County staff explained typical large-scale cooling can rely on groundwater and evaporative systems and that disposal of mineral-laden flushes often requires connection to wastewater infrastructure.
The board discussed scope and duration: some members favored a narrowly focused moratorium (data centers and crypto mining), others recommended noticing water, energy and sewage thresholds rather than a broad industrial ban to avoid harming existing small businesses. County legal counsel said Worth County’s recent Iowa Supreme Court decision affirmed moratoriums can be a legitimate tool while legislation is developed.
The board did not adopt a moratorium at the meeting but asked staff to draft enforceable language (options discussed included a 90-day or 1-year term, or until an ordinance is adopted) and return with a resolution for formal consideration. The work session continued with staff committed to provide proposed language and follow-up analyses.
Next steps: staff will prepare moratorium and ordinance options, including definitions (e.g., data centers, commercial crypto operations), and return to the board with draft documents and suggested timelines.
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