Google Addresses Water Concerns at Iowa Data Center Proposal
Google hosted a community open house in Palo, Iowa, to present details on its proposed data center near the Duane Arnold nuclear plant, addressing concerns about water usage and supply. The company shared its plans, including analyses of the Cedar…
Des Moines Ames, IA, October 30, 2026 —
Google recently held a community open house in Palo, Iowa, to provide details regarding its proposed data center development located near the Duane Arnold nuclear plant. The event aimed to address significant community concerns, particularly those related to water usage and supply for the facility.
During the open house, representatives from Google presented their plans for the data center. The company shared findings from its analyses concerning the capacity of the Cedar River, a key local water source. A notable commitment made by Google was that its data center operations would not utilize groundwater aquifers for cooling purposes.
In response to ongoing community feedback and concerns about the potential impact on regional water resources, Linn County has announced it will independently commission a regional water study. Google has agreed to fund this study. However, the company has stated it will not have influence over the study’s direction or findings, ensuring its independent nature.
Story summarized from the original created by Eliza Billingham on www.iowapublicradio.org, see more information here.
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