Google bypassing Linn County to try to build data center

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – The Linn County Board of Supervisors said Google has pulled out of its plan to build a data center in unincorporated Linn County. Instead, its planning on trying to build one within the city of Palo’s jurisdiction, through annexation of the property.

This comes after the board approved an ordinance to regulate any future data centers back in February.

The ordinance requires large projects to complete a detailed study outlining how much water it would use, where it will come from and how it could affect groundwater and surface water.

Developers are also required to sign agreements addressing water use, setbacks, lighting, noise limits, traffic impacts and road use.

Google would use water from the Cedar River to cool its many servers. Board of Supervisors Chair Kirsten Running-Marquardt said Google told her it was planning on needing to use 12 million gallons of water a day.

“Google has decided to bypass the protections that we put in place in our…