More counties in Northwest Iowa are joining Woodbury County in placing moratoriums on data centers being placed on unincorporated land.
In the last 10 days, the boards of supervisors of Plymouth and Sioux counties put in place such moratoriums. A big trend in mid-2026 is having residents and now county boards speaking against data centers.
According to the minutes of the June 16 meeting of the Sioux County Board of Supervisors, there is a one year moratorium on data center or battery energy storage system (BESS) projects being received, considered or developed. The Plymouth County measure passed on a 4-0 vote.
The Woodbury County Board on June 23 put in place a 12 month moratorium, so they can come up with rules and regulations. Woodbury County Supervisor Matthew Ug referenced the county town of Salix, saying “all three counties are passing moratoriums in response to what one city did.”
In a Salix City Council meeting on June 10, a MidAmerican Energy representative confirmed the company is involved with a proposed development of a data center.
Earlier this spring, the council approved the annexation of about 950 acres of ag land into Salix. The Woodbury County ban does not have authority on what the Salix City Council may do.
On June 15, more than 100 people gathered at the Salix Community Park to speak against data centers.
