Data Center Information & Community Input Report | August 17, 2026

The City of Dubuque Government held a special work session on August 17, 2026, focused on data center regulations and community input. The meeting included a detailed presentation on the emerging regulatory landscape for data centers, highlighting the risks of outright bans due to potential legal challenges and recommending a standards-based ordinance approach. Staff summarized extensive community engagement efforts, including a mailed and online survey with 3,777 responses and two roundtable discussions, revealing strong public concern about environmental impacts, water and energy use, noise, and community benefits. Council members discussed potential ordinance frameworks, favoring a hybrid approach combining zoning triggers with standalone data center standards to allow for flexible, size-based scrutiny. They also considered moratoriums, economic development agreements, and the importance of protecting local resources and infrastructure. No current data center proposals exist within city limits, and the council emphasized a cautious, thorough process to develop regulations that balance community protection with potential economic benefits.