12 data centers and projects on our map in Iowa, including 3 projects we track in detail. Each one links to its source. Below: where they are by county, the projects in the news, and the latest reporting from both sides.
See Iowa on the map. Existing facilities come from OpenStreetMap, a community-maintained public map that is incomplete; proposed, under construction and blocked projects are tracked one by one from news, filings and official records.
Blocked, paused or withdrawn Six month moratorium unanimously adopted Sept. 23, 2026
Marshalltown, Marshall County
announced 2026-09-23
The Marshall County Board of Supervisors paused applications for data centers, AI computing, cryptocurrency and data mining facilities in unincorporated areas for six months while it drafts an ordinance. A separate, shorter Marshalltown city moratorium is already in effect.
Issues raised: zoning, water, power, opposition
Proposed Part of a 7 billion dollar Iowa expansion pledge
Cedar Rapids, Linn County · Operator: Google
$7 billion · announced 2025-06
Google pledged about 7 billion dollars to expand its Iowa footprint, including a new Cedar Rapids data center and added capacity at Council Bluffs. Iowa debate focuses on electricity demand and sales tax exemptions for data center equipment.
Issues raised: power, water, tax-incentives
Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County · Operator: Google
Google's Council Bluffs campus is one of its oldest and largest US data center sites, first announced in 2007 and expanded repeatedly since. In June 2025 Google committed 7 billion dollars over two years to Iowa, covering expansion at Council Bluffs and a new site in Cedar Rapids, which renewed debate over the state's data center sales tax exemptions and electricity demand.
Issues raised: power, tax-incentives, jobs, water
Sioux County Supervisors set a Sept. 29 public hearing on a draft ordinance that would set higher standards for data-center applications, including independent water and power studies, a closed-loop cooling requirement, and developer funding for first-responder training. A second reading is scheduled for Oct. 13 and a third and final reading for Oct. 27.
Check it: The ordinance needs three readings to take effect. Confirm whether the Board of Supervisors adopts it as drafted or weakens the closed-loop water requirement.
The Marshall County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on September 23 to pause new applications for data centers, AI computing, data mining and cryptocurrency facilities for six months. The county has no formal data center ordinance and plans monthly work sessions to develop one. It is distinct from a shorter Marshalltown city moratorium already in effect.
Check it: The county moratorium covers unincorporated areas; city rules in Marshalltown are separate and shorter.
Hancock County supervisors tabled a proposed six month moratorium on new data center construction, with one supervisor saying the county should focus on drafting a permanent ordinance covering data centers, crypto mining, solar farms and battery storage. The board is expected to take up the moratorium again at its next meeting.
Check it: No moratorium is in effect. Any pending project applications continue under existing county zoning until the board acts.
For the arguments behind these fights, see the case for data centers, the case against, and the questions people ask, each answered from both sides.
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