BOONE, Iowa—Even though the topic hasn’t been placed on a City Council Agenda, public comments at the last two Boone City Council meetings have been dominated by “data centers” and in particular a possible “colocation” site for Lightedge. Lightedge provides cloud, colocation and IT services and is considering a possible site in Boone. In September, the Boone County Economic Growth Corporation Executive Board entered a tentative agreement making about 10 acres in the Boone Business Park, south of U.S. Highway 30 available to Lightedge. The Boone Business Park was created in the late 1990’s and is home to the Boone CDS Global site, Proliant Biologicals, Patterson Logistics and Boulders Inn Boone (Cobblestone).
Comments for this particular proposal from Lightedge have reflected both pros and cons. Those opposed comment about large data centers taking up land and resources like water and electricity and generate excessive noise. Supporters have focused on a “colocation” site being used for data storage, uses very little water, is low noise, would have access to power through Alliant Energy and, would add to the property tax base.
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