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Data Centers: What Iowa Communities Can Do to Prepare and Protect presented by Iowa Chapter Sierra Club

August 4 @ 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm EDT

This event is hosted by the Iowa Chapter Sierra Club.

Data centers are being proposed across Iowa at an unprecedented pace, bringing questions about water use, energy demand, local control, and community impacts. Whether your community is already facing a proposal or you simply want to be prepared, this webinar will provide the information you need to understand what’s happening and how residents can take action.

Speakers:

JoAnn Beer is the Mayor of Fairfax, Iowa and is actively working to keep data centers out of her community and nearby communities.

During this presentation, we’ll cover:

  • What data centers are and why Iowa has become a hotspot for development.
  • The biggest concerns surrounding data centers, including water use, electricity demand, noise, and impacts on nearby communities.
  • An overview of data center projects across Iowa and the communities already navigating proposals, including Palo, Ames, Hancock County, Charles City, Dubuque County, Jefferson County, Clinton, and West Des Moines.
  • Why local ordinances matter, what strong ordinances look like, and how communities can advocate for protections before a proposal arrives.
  • The role of county moratoriums and what they can, and cannot, accomplish.
  • State legislation aimed at increasing transparency and protecting Iowa’s water resources.
  • Practical steps you can take to engage with local officials, organize your community, and advocate for responsible development.

Communities across Iowa are beginning to grapple with these proposals, and many are reaching out for guidance. The best time to prepare is before a data center is proposed in your community.

Join us to learn what’s happening, why it matters, and how you can help ensure your community has a voice in the process.

Event Organizers:

Jess Mazour
jessica.mazour@sierraclub.org
515-313-5253

Event Photo Credit:

Sinem Görücü / https://betterimagesofai.org / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Details