(Radio Iowa) – Hancock County officials are discussing a possible ordinance to regulate crypto mining, solar farms, battery storage facilities and data centers. Hancock County Supervisor Bud Jermeland says he visited the Des Moines suburb of Altoona to learn about the impact a data center is having there.
Jermeland visited with neighbors of the facility, too.
Jermeland made his comments in a Hancock County Board of Supervisors meeting room packed with residents concerned by the prospect of a data center in their rural county. He told the crowd they’ve been reading opinions online, without investigating the facts.
Hancock County Supervisor Gary Rayhons says the discussion about the ordinance shouldn’t be centered on data centers, since battery storage centers, solar fields and crypto mining facilities are to be included.
Rayhons says having new industries or businesses of any type expand in Hancock County is the way to reduce population loss in the area.
