Iowa is about to face one of the most significant economic disruptions in its history — and almost no one is talking about it. Artificial intelligence and robotics are advancing at a pace that most people find difficult to comprehend. What makes Iowa particularly vulnerable is the nature of our economy. Our strongest industries — […]
# Iowa’s Data Centers: What’s Built, What’s Coming Iowa has quietly become one of the most active data center markets in the country. Most residents know one or two names — Google in Council Bluffs, Meta in Altoona — but the full picture is much bigger, and it’s spread across more of the state than
A proposed data center in our town set off a wave of anti-data center campaigning by the local Democratic Socialist group, the Heartland Democratic Socialists. Their public meetings and social media posts mixed legitimate questions with information that was simply false, and the effect was less “informing residents” than building an us-vs-them narrative that could
Part two of a series examining the real forces behind Iowa’s data center debate. Let’s Start With Your Electric Bill If you’ve been following Iowa’s data center debate, you’ve probably heard some version of this claim: data centers are driving up electricity rates, and Iowans are footing the bill for Big Tech’s AI ambitions. It’s
Part five of a series examining the real forces behind Iowa’s data center debate. A Post That Wasn’t What It Seemed On June 1 at 5:53 in the morning, an image appeared in the Facebook feeds of tens of thousands of Iowans. A breathtaking aerial photograph of Iowa farmland glowing at sunset, the outline of
AI can and will revolutionize education. It will impact teaching and learning in ways we can scarcely imagine today – but will be demanding attention tomorrow. What seems like science fiction today, will look antiquated tomorrow. The only question is whether Iowa will lead the way, or play catch up down the road. AI can
While other states fight over who pays the bill for AI’s energy appetite, Iowa has built something most of the country doesn’t have: a model that works. The Numbers Are Hard to Ignore Iowa is home to roughly 115 data centers, with the Des Moines metro hosting about 76 of them and Cedar Rapids emerging
Part one of a four-part series examining the real impacts of data centers on Iowa communities. What You Need to Know Before Reading Further The Central Iowa Water Works voluntary water restriction had nothing to do with data centers. The request was triggered by elevated nitrate levels in the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers —
Artificial intelligence, in its most consequential forms, is quietly beginning to do things that were not possible before. This series is about those things.
The warnings about artificial intelligence’s appetite for energy are real. Data centers powering the AI revolution consumed an estimated 460 to 490 terawatt-hours of electricity globally in 2025 — roughly the annual output of 50 large nuclear plants — and the International Energy Agency projects that figure will nearly double by 2030. In the United
The rapid advance of AI is no longer a distant prospect — it demands immediate action from every education leader and policymaker in Iowa. Few developments in modern history will reshape the international playing field as profoundly or as quickly. Nations and school systems that fully embrace AI will gain a decisive edge. Those that