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Regbase

The Data Center Divide

Buchanan County

This restriction takes precedence while in effect. The rating below excludes temporary restrictions.

Neutral Data Center Policies

Buchanan County has enacted measures pausing data-center construction and related permit applications through December 31, 2027, delaying new projects and expansions. The descriptions do not clearly say the pause restricts existing centers’ operations.

Rating from Iowa statewide as there are no scored current or future laws outside temporary restrictions for Buchanan County.

Specific to Buchanan County only.

current law · County measure
Extends the pause on building data centers and issuing related permits until December 31, 2027.Buchanan County Resolution 26-64 (2026)

What this means

The measure extends a pause on building data storage centers and applying for related permits through December 31, 2027, making new projects and expansions substantially harder during that time. It does not clearly restrict the operation of existing centers.

Timing

Ends
Dec 31, 2027

The moratoriums on data mining facilities, utility-scale battery energy storage systems, and data storage centers expire on 2027-12-31. Each may be extended further by resolution or ended earlier if the relevant ordinance is satisfactorily completed.

People behind it

  • Legislative body responsible for proposing, introducing, considering, adopting, and administering county resolutions, ordinances, budgets, loans, and other measures.

  • Supervisor who repeatedly introduced or seconded motions proposing adoption of county resolutions, ordinances, loans, budgets, appointments, and other measures.

  • Supervisor who repeatedly introduced or seconded motions proposing adoption of county resolutions, ordinances, budgets, infrastructure measures, and other actions.

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  • Supervisor who introduced or seconded motions and participated in proposing and administering county measures, including emergency, zoning, budget, and ambulance-service actions.

  • County Auditor responsible for administering and presenting budget, tax, loan, fund-transfer, election, public-notice, and other county measures.

  • Zoning Director who presented and administered proposed zoning amendments, zoning hearings, and related land-use measures.

  • County Engineer who proposed and administered secondary-road, bridge, equipment, traffic-speed, and transportation-program measures.

  • Emergency Management Director who proposed disaster-declaration measures and administered related emergency-management actions.

  • Speer Financial representative responsible for preparing and administering financing documents and the private-placement process for the EMS equipment loan.

  • Municipal financial advisor responsible for preparing loan documents and assisting with the private placement of the EMS equipment financing.

Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements1

  • Buchanan County imposed a moratorium on developing or constructing data storage centers, applying for related permits, and operating data storage facilities. The moratorium was extended through December 31, 2027, unless ended earlier or extended again by resolution.

Sources

current law · County measure: Data mining and data storage facilities within Buchanan County
Prohibits data center construction and related permit applications in Buchanan County until December 31, 2027.Buchanan County Resolution 25-114 (2025)

What this means

The measure extends a moratorium on building data storage centers and applying for related permits until December 31, 2027, creating a major delay for new projects in Buchanan County. It offers no offsetting benefits to data center development. Moratorium on development and construction of Data Storage Centers.

Timing

Ends
Dec 31, 2027

Minutes approve extension until December 31, 2027; data storage extension clause contains battery-storage permit language. Original resolution reserves early termination after a satisfactory data-storage ordinance.

People behind it

  • Moves extension approval

  • Seconds extension approval

Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements2

  • Original resolution pauses development, construction and permit applications for data-storage facilities for eight months.

  • Board approves extension for Data Storage System; extension permit scope requires confirmation due to drafting inconsistency.

Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions1

  • Board reserves early termination upon a satisfactorily developed Data Storage Facilities ordinance.

Sources

current law · County measure: Buchanan County zoning jurisdiction; specific geographic coverage is not stated
Prohibits data center development, construction, and related permit applications in Buchanan County through December 31, 2027.Buchanan County Resolution 26-62 (2026)

What this means

The measure would pause data-center construction and related permit applications until December 31, 2027, making it substantially harder to start new projects. The sources describe no offsetting benefits for data centers.

Timing

Ends
Dec 31, 2027

The measure includes moratoriums on data mining facilities, utility-scale battery energy storage systems, and data storage centers. Each expires on 2027-12-31 and may be extended further by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.

Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements1

  • A moratorium prohibits the development and construction of data storage centers, applications for permits related to them, and their operation in Buchanan County through December 31, 2027, unless the county adopts a satisfactory data storage facilities ordinance sooner.

Sources

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