Springfield and Marshalltown Draft Data Center Regulations

Two cities are currently implementing moratoriums on data center development to establish long-term regulatory frameworks. In Springfield, Missouri, officials are hosting community engagement sessions on August 27 and September 1 to gather public input on water and electricity usage, land use, and public safety. The city council passed a 120-day moratorium on June 29, which expires in October. Cora Scott, Director of Communications for the City of Springfield, stated the process is intended to be transparent and that final regulations could range from a total ban to specific location allowances.

Similarly, the Marshalltown City Council is developing regulations following public concerns over noise and resource consumption. The council scheduled a roundtable discussion for August 28, with a draft of the regulations expected by September 17. Marshalltown's four-month moratorium is set to expire on November 23.

While Springfield has received no formal applications, Marshalltown has faced a specific proposal from Swarm Systems CEO Amir Atefi. Atefi proposed building single-tenant AI data centers on 21 acres of city-owned land in Edgewood Industrial Park, claiming the project would create high-paying jobs by 2028. However, the City Council has not proceeded with the land purchase following disputes over a counteroffer and questions regarding Atefi's transparency and job projections.