Iowa labor advocates have announced their support for the burgeoning number of data centers under construction around the state. They say the need for data storage is on the rise, and the state is in need of quality employment opportunities.

From the $10 million QTS data center in Cedar Rapids, to the large expansion of Meta and Google facilities around the state, including in rural areas, Iowa is becoming home to an increasing number of data facilities.

Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, President Charlie Wishman said the expansion isn't slowing down, and Iowa is benefitting from the employment opportunities they present.

"It's going to bring good-paying jobs and benefits to a lot of rural communities, in fact," said Wishman. "It's something that we absolutely have to do. So, if we're going to build these, let's make sure that they're built with good wages, good benefits, people learning on the job, building out workforce."

Wishman acknowledged water and power usage concerns, but counters that local communities can create agreements with data companies laying out, in writing, what they will provide local communities and the people who live there.

Wishman said those community benefit agreements are important to make these data centers work for everyone involved.

They involve arranging noise barriers and water use plans, projecting electricity demand, and creating guarantees that companies pay their fair share of property taxes.

"I think these are all things that, when we come together, we can figure out how to move forward," said Wishman, "and to be honest, keep our society running."

Meta is expanding its 5 million square-foot AI facility in Altoona, among the largest in the world. The company says it is employing advanced "closed-loop" liquid cooling technology to alleviate water use and other environmental concerns.

Source: Public News Service