(Estherville)– Estherville’s Planning and Zoning Commission has finalized recommendations for restrictions on data centers, which will now go before the city council for review on Monday, November 2nd. A public hearing will also be required prior to any final adoption.
Among the regulations is one that sets the maximum capacity at 25 megawatts. It also places limitations on environmental impacts, noise, water and electrical consumption. Based on those parameters, P & Z members say such a data center would not be the largest consumer of power or water in the city.
A company has expressed interest in developing a 25 megawatt data center in Estherville employing 12-15 people in an industrial park on the south side of the city. Emmet county adopted a one year moratorium on the facilities in August, but that’s for unincorporated areas of the county only.
