Data Center Concerns Grow Across Political Lines

Data center growth is sparking bipartisan concern across Iowa, where residents are increasingly worried about preserving prime farmland, protecting water supplies, and managing rising electricity costs.

A recent University of Illinois study shows that worry over lost farmland, water strain, and higher utility rates jumped across all political lines between February and August 2026. Democrat concern averaged over 5.5 out of 7, while Republican concern over land and water use climbed from 4.5 to 5.2. Across the board, alarm over converting agricultural land into industrial tech sites rose nearly a full point.

As tech developers target rural communities, Midwestern farm manager surveys show about a quarter have already been approached in early 2026, signaling a growing shift of traditional farmland toward tech infrastructure.