Rob Sand Launches New Data Centers Plan to Put Iowans First

Rob Sand Launches New Data Centers Plan to Put Iowans First

DES MOINES, IA – Today, nominee for governor Rob Sand released a policy plan outlining how he will put Iowa taxpayers and ratepayers – not big corporations – first, as data centers continue to pop up in communities across Iowa and threaten to hike utility rates. 

“As governor, I will work with the legislature to make sure that anyone building in Iowa is contributing to Iowa, not extracting from us, and that Iowa families, not big corporations, are put first,” said nominee for governor Rob Sand. “These major corporations should be paying full freight and carrying their own weight, not raising Iowans’ costs for anything, and must respect the communities they move to. We need more transparency and accountability, and a change in leadership who will put Iowa families first. As governor, that’s exactly what I’ll do.” 

Rob’s plan to hold major corporations and data centers accountable includes the following: 

• Make them cover 100% of their own costs: As governor, Rob would sign a bill making sure these data centers pay their own way, including covering any increase in costs on utilities so that Iowans’ bills don’t go up one cent.

• End tax breaks for data centers: Right now, Iowa faces a nearly $1.4 billion budget deficit. We shouldn’t be handing out more tax breaks for major corporations at the expense of Iowa taxpayers. These data centers are also getting huge sales tax breaks on everything inside the data center. That’s millions of dollars in additional revenue down the drain for our state. As governor, Rob will end these tax breaks and make sure the needs of Iowa taxpayers are being put first.

• Enact strong consumer protections: As governor, Rob will work to enact strong consumer protections to put Iowans first and require the companies that own the data centers pay 100% of the costs of any and all infrastructure upgrades, energy usage, and other costs. Rob would do that by implementing IRP to ensure utilities are accountable, customers (including data centers) only pay for what they need, and energy generation aligns with cost efficiency and sustainability. 

• Stop data centers from eroding our natural resources and utilities: These data centers have planted their roots with no clear monitoring of how they use our water and energy. We need to measure it, make it transparent, and put Iowans first.

• Require investments in Iowa’s workforce: Good paying jobs are only good if they don’t increase costs or problems for other Iowans who are already here. As governor, Rob would require new construction of data centers to be built by Iowa union workers that uphold job site quality standards, offer good wages for workers, and make investments in local workforce development.

• Demand accountability and transparency over new data centers: Too often these agreements are done in backrooms and under the shadow of NDAs that hide the process from regular Iowans. As governor, Rob would block the use of NDAs on new data centers and make sure these deals happen out in the open. He would also require public disclosure of the following information:

  • Building size and acreage 
  • Number of permanent jobs and construction jobs, as well as the average pay 
  • Overview of water usage, sources of water, and water efficiency rating 
  • Energy use, including peak energy usage and energy usage efficiency

• Require open public hearings and town halls on the creation of new data centers, and support local control: Similar to his call for requiring public town halls for elected officials, Rob would require listening sessions, public hearings, or town halls take place in communities impacted by new data centers. If Iowans don’t want these data centers in their communities, they should have the opportunity to make their voices heard. Rob supports local control of the ultimate decision once we have a floor in place to make sure Iowans aren’t being taken advantage of, because you have more say and more accountability over your local elected officials.

• Setback Requirements: No existing Iowa homes should have to hear a data center humming or have any lighting disrupt their enjoyment of their property. 

Read Rob’s plan in full HERE.

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