Post Author's Photographer By Kristin Eggen June 1, 2026

The rapid expansion of data centers expansion is impacting rural communities faster than many localities can regulate them. As data center development expands across Iowa, WED is tracking the industry’s impact on Winneshiek County & the state.
On Monday, June 1 the Winneshiek County Board of supervisors unanimously approved the Planning and Zoning Committee’s recommendation to categorize data centers in the M2 General industrial category. Planning and Zoning committee chair Wendy Stevens made the case for the designation, stating thatย  the M2 category is intended to accommodate various types of industrial warehousing and storage uses that could have an effect on nearby properties, such as bulk storage of petroleum products, salvage yards, fertilizer manufacturing, slaughterhouses or buildingย  fabrication. This category now includes data centers.
The vast majority of Winneshiek County is zoned as A1 agricultural land. There are several parcels that are designated as M2. According to Zoning Administrator Tony Phillips parcels tend to be less than 20 acres in size.
The Board of Supervisors unanimously charged the Winneshiek County Planning and Zoning commission to start to develop ordinance language for data center development. The commission’s next meeting is set for June 9.


Kristin Eggen first came to the Winneshiek Energy District as a Green Iowa AmeriCorps member in 2015. Eight years later, she is thrilled to lead the grassroots clean energy movement in Winneshiek County. Kristin deeply appreciates rural communities, Northeast Iowa, community sustainability, and nonprofit management. She uses The Art of Hosting Conversations that Matter methodology and graphic recording services to drive strategic conversations around community sustainability, justice, fundraising, and nonprofit health.

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