AUR Middletown manager says proposed data-center expansion would rely on utility approvals, offers water-use estimates

John Palmera, manager of AUR Middletown LLC, told the Des Moines County Board of Supervisors that the company’s West Burlington modular data center currently operates at 5 megawatts and uses a closed-loop cooling system that does not consume water for cooling. Palmera said the company is considering an optional expansion to as much as 25 megawatts, but that the utility and local transmission limits determine how large the site can grow.

“The plain answer is the two current cooperatives who provide us power and water are Eastern Iowa Light and Electric Cooperative and RRWA,” Palmera said, adding that the utilities “control the service decisions” and must confirm capacity before AUR can expand. He said AUR would pay for required upgrades and interconnection work and that existing tariffs protect other members from harm.

Palmera gave water-use scenarios linked to cooling choices. He said the present facility uses no water for cooling and that a 5-MW water-cooled case would be about 7,000,000 gallons per year. He estimated a 15-MW case at about 21,000,000 gallons annually and said a high-end 25-MW, water-cooled scenario could use in the range of 35–43,000,000 gallons per year. Palmera emphasized that only wet evaporative cooling would use that volume of water; other methods such as dry coolers, immersion or closed-loop liquid systems use little or no makeup water.

Palmera also described AUR’s participation in regional grid operations. “On these high-stress days, MISO … has loads like ourselves, which are called load modifying resources, to use less electricity,” he said, adding that the company is contractually required to reduce consumption during grid emergencies to preserve power for homes, hospitals and businesses.

Residents and county officials asked for details. The board asked Palmera to provide the presentation slide deck to board@dmcounty.com; Palmera agreed to email the materials and to follow up with the county’s fire and emergency-management agencies. Several speakers said they would like utility confirmations in writing that upgrades and interconnection work would be sufficient to avoid pressure drops or service impacts for existing customers; Palmera said he would seek and share written utility documentation.

County safety staff and citizens raised other concerns. Angi[e] Vaughn, identified as the county safety director, asked whether the company had discussed hazmat and emergency responses with local responders; Palmera said he would work with the West Burlington fire department and Des Moines County Emergency Management. A member of the public raised the possibility that evaporative cooling could produce fog or icing on Highway 34 in winter; Palmera responded that the company does not plan to use water during the cold months when such freeze events occur.

Palmera also answered questions about staffing and local purchases: he said a 5-MW site typically employs about five full-time workers and that a 25-MW expanded site would have roughly 15 on-site employees, with the company using local contractors for construction and operations where possible. On property taxes, Palmera said the parcel is being moved from agricultural to industrial classification and that AUR will work with the county to estimate tax revenue impacts.

Palmera said AUR has eleven active facilities in Iowa and holds letters of intent with potential customers for capacity placement, but he said some agreements are still at the LOI stage and that he did not have signed tenant contracts to present. He also told the board that AUR had previously experienced a fire at an earlier facility; he said the cause was not determined.

The board asked for follow-up documentation and for clear written confirmations from utilities before any approval discussions proceed. Palmera agreed to provide the slide deck to the board, to pursue written utility confirmations, and to coordinate with local emergency services on safety and wastewater procedures. The board concluded the Q&A after thanking Palmera for the presentation and information.

Next steps: Palmera will email the presentation to board@dmcounty.com, follow up with West Burlington fire officials and Des Moines County Emergency Management, and provide requested utility and wastewater documentation when available.