After hours of public comment for and against a proposed 35‑MW facility, the Jackson County Board of County Commissioners approved an ordinance banning data centers in unincorporated Jackson County while adding staff‑direction to develop detailed siting and review criteria and keeping a narrow exemption process.

Staff presented a working draft of an ordinance regulating high-density computing facilities (HDCF) and told commissioners it will present a proposed 12-month moratorium extension to the Board of Supervisors on July 28, 2026. Commissioners discussed setbacks, visual-impact analysis, decommissioning, and legal review needs.

At a lengthy work session, the commission discussed a draft ordinance for high-density computing facilities (data centers), focusing on decommissioning standards, e‑waste compliance with Iowa Code chapter 455B, whether the county can issue shutdown orders, parking and noise limits (50 dBA proposed). Commissioners requested revisions and legal review before a joint hearing with supervisors.

Commissioners discussed keeping a 1,000- or 1,320-foot setback in the HDCF draft, and debated whether to allow data centers via conditional use in existing commercial/industrial zones or to create a dedicated zoning district — balancing utility access, rezoning needs and fairness with other industrial uses.

The countys zoning administrator told supervisors a draft resolution would extend the existing moratorium on high-density computing and data processing facilities for one year while staff complete technical and legal reviews ahead of a proposed ordinance.

In response to a proposed solar-plus-battery project that raised concerns it could host an AI/data processing center, commissioners discussed resource impacts, tax treatment and a possible temporary moratorium. The board agreed to take no moratorium action now and revisit the question after a state law takes effect on July 1.