Iowa Starting Line

Since 2020, Microsoft data centers in West Des Moines used over 300 million gallons of water—an average of 2.1% of all water consumed in the city.

"The small, wealthy minority who control our state's economy and politics keep getting richer. It's their utopia, and we live outside it. Data centers won't help us. They'll only bring us more of the same—plus higher electric bills," said Nate Holdren, a Drake University professor.

Iowa is the host of roughly 64 operational data center, and tech corporations are proposing an additional 25 more.

Iowa legislators are considering a bill that would require data centers to produce quarterly water usage reports, which would be submitted to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Additional proposed legislation would create a new customer class for large use energy facilities. This would require utility companies to create separate rates and fees for data centers.

To take action against data centers in Iowa, click the link in the comments🔗

More than 200 Iowa state IT workers are losing their government jobs as the Reynolds administration replaces IT positions with private contractors. The state says it will improve efficiency. Critics say it guts experienced public employees.

They graduated from Clear Creek Amana in 2010. Now they help keep it running.

Seth Graesser and Tyler Hibbs turned their top-notch public school education into a decade-long career giving back to one of Iowa's fastest-growing school districts.

Read more at the link in the comments.