Central City releases draft ordinance outlining rules for proposed data center

CENTRAL CITY, Iowa — Central City released a draft ordinance outlining new rules for data centers as officials continue reviewing a proposed facility near the Linn County Fairgrounds.

The proposal would establish requirements for zoning, noise, water use, electricity demand, emergency response and site closure.

The proposed Elk Data Center would be about 18,500 square feet on roughly three acres. City officials have said the project could use about 4 megawatts of electricity, rely on a closed-loop cooling system and create up to 10 full-time jobs.

What the ordinance requires

Under the draft, data centers measuring 30,000 square feet or less could be built in the city’s M-1 light-industrial and M-2 heavy-industrial districts. Larger facilities would only be allowed in the M-2 district.

The proposal would require data centers to submit site plans detailing buildings, cooling equipment, generators, battery storage, fuel systems and utility connections.

It also would establish a 65-decibel limit for combined operational noise at an industrial property’s boundary. All data centers would need a pre-construction noise study. Larger facilities would face additional sound and vibration reviews.

Emergency generators could operate during actual power outages or emergencies. Routine testing and maintenance would generally be limited to weekdays between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

The draft also addresses water use. Facilities using closed-loop or other low-water cooling systems, without routine evaporative cooling or process wastewater, would generally qualify as having a low water impact unless city officials identify a potential effect on utility capacity.

What’s next

The draft ordinance would need City Council approval before it could take effect.

Residents have raised questions about the proposed data center’s potential effects on electricity, water, noise and future development.

The city has not given final approval for the Elk Data Center project. The proposed rules would establish standards for data centers but would not authorize construction.