Data Centers in Iowa
At least 58 data centers have been tracked across Iowa — the 9th state by data-center buildout in the country by capacity.
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Every one of those 58 data centers draws power and water from the same grid you rely on — reshaping where Iowa rates, land use, and water go, whether or not anyone put it to a vote. Here’s what that means, and what you can do about it.
Statewide, an industry analysis counts about 104 operational and 55 planned or under‑construction data centers in Iowa, plus an estimated $531 million in projected 10‑year tax revenue — the map below shows the 58 we’ve pinned so far, so help us map the rest. Statewide totals: American Edge Project & TECNA, Dec 2025.
Every record for this area on the Docket → · nothing is ever deleted.
No new reports near Iowa in the last 30 days — checked hourly, last checked Sep 11, 15:14 UTC. Cameras only get on the map when someone looks: be the one.
What these facilities actually do
Hyperscale data centers aren’t ordinary warehouses. Each one draws megawatts of power and millions of gallons of water, and locks in decades of tax abatements — deals routinely approved with little public scrutiny. Across Iowa, that’s 58 facilities quietly reshaping the grid, water table, and tax base. See how the buildout works and where the power and water go.
How Iowa compares
Iowa ranks #9 of 52 states and territories by tracked data-center capacity — among the biggest buildouts in the nation. Nationwide, we have tracked over 2,000 megawatts and counting. Nearby by camera count: Arizona (64), Illinois (53), New Jersey (58), Pennsylvania (45).
The latest from Iowa
- What can we learn from other Iowa data centers?
- Iowa data center debate looms in governor race. Where Sand, Lahn stand
- Clinton, Iowa City Council combs through data center ordinance
- Marshalltown enacts data center moratorium until November
- Central Iowa city joins chorus in passing data center moratorium
On camera in Iowa — each opens right here on GridWatch:
All data-center news → · All video & feeds →
What you can do in Iowa
You don’t have to accept it — and you don’t have to be anti-growth to demand accountability. File a public records request to learn a project’s power draw, water use, and abatement terms, speak up at a city-council meeting, and see the full playbook on our Take Action page.
Not sure what one looks like? See photographs of installed cameras before you go looking.
No local chapter in Iowa yet — be the first, and we’ll list you.
Data centers by city in Iowa
We track 10 Iowa cities and towns with tracked data centers — each with its own local report: