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The tech giant has reportedly purchased more than 600 acres of industrially zoned land in Iowa’s Woodward community last week. This sets the stage for a potential development that could reshape the town’s tax base and infrastructure. According to a KCCI report, more than 200 residents gathered at Woodward-Granger High School this week to hear Microsoft representatives and Mayor Todd Folkerts explain preliminary plans, including roads, water and sewer upgrades, and electricity arrangements. The meeting also exposed residents’ concerns about limited community involvement, environmental effects of the planned data centre, and whether a project of this scale should require a public vote. How Microsoft’s purchase of more than 600 acres in Woodward sets the stage for a data center Microsoft completed the purchase of approximately 600 acres in the Woodward Eco Business Park last week, the report noted. The property was acquired from an independent seller rather than the city and is already zoned for industrial use, which permits data center development. The business park received certified-site status in 2018, making it a potential location for industrial projects.
A proposed Microsoft data center in a small town in Iowa may have triggered concerns over the area’s future.
However, Microsoft has not yet designed the proposed data center, and company representatives said the design process could take roughly two years before construction could begin. The project would be located on the southern side of Woodward, a community of approximately 1,300 people. Its scale has raised questions about how the development would affect the town’s infrastructure, environment and quality of life. What Microsoft told more than 200 residents about roads, utilities and electricity Company officials said the data center would create dozens of jobs and contribute to the town’s tax base. However, the facility’s final design and construction timeline remain uncertain. Why Woodward residents questioned the lack of community involvement
Microsoft representatives met with Folkerts for a 90-minute session at Woodward-Granger High School on Monday.
The session brought residents and company officials together to discuss the proposal and answer questions about its potential impact. The company said it would pay for the infrastructure required for the project, including road construction and paving, water and sewer upgrades, and electricity infrastructure. Government Affairs Infrastructure Director Cloteal LaBroi said the company’s plans would also include arrangements designed to limit the project’s impact on existing municipal services. Microsoft said a closed-loop cooling system would not affect the city’s water resources. It also plans to buy electricity directly from a wholesaler, which representatives said would keep the project from affecting the local power grid or raising electricity rates for residents. Though Microsoft assured infrastructure and economic benefits, some residents seemed frustrated with the land-acquisition process. I mean, something this big, the community should get to vote on instead of doing back-end deals,” one resident said. Folkerts responded that residents would not vote directly on the proposal. The council would also need to approve a site plan later. Defending the need to find additional revenue for the town, Folkerts told the gathering: “I can safely say I have not seen a single one of you at a budget meeting when we try to balance a budget for this community,” he said to the crowd. “We have to find revenue sources for our community.” The meeting also attracted criticism over restrictions on who could attend. He questioned whether the restriction was consistent with Iowa’s open meeting laws. “It runs counter to the openness that the public meetings all guarantee,” Evans told KCCI. “From my vantage point, it erodes the trust and confidence, and the respect for Woodward city government.” Tensions also surfaced inside the auditorium, where police escorted out a vocal opponent after an altercation during the meeting.
Some asked whether town residents had a right to speak on an issue that might have a huge impact on their lives. “Is this something that we get a vote on? It replaced the city’s regular council meeting but was limited to Woodward residents, who had to show proof of residency to enter. Several people were turned away. Randy Evans, president of Iowa’s Freedom of Information Council, was among those denied entry. Outside, about half a dozen protesters gathered to oppose data center developments, including projects proposed in Ames and Boone. You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.
Instead, the city council would vote on negotiations between Microsoft and the city, and the council would have to approve a development agreement before the project could move forward.