Iowa county adopts strict zoning rules for data centers, but residents still worry
Summary
Ars Technica covers Linn County, Iowa's adoption of one of the strictest local data center zoning rules, requiring water studies, water-use agreements, and protections against noise, light pollution, and road damage. Residents fear water depletion and higher electricity costs, even as the ordinance creates a data-center-specific district with oversight. The piece places the rule within broader national trends toward tighter data center regulation and local control.