Salix Residents Unite Against Proposed Google Data Center

A proposed Google data center in Salix, Iowa has sparked controversy among residents. According to documents obtained from Salix City Hall, landowners submitted a voluntary annexation request for 900 acres of agricultural land on March 12. The annexation was published in the Sergeant Bluff Advocate newspaper on March 13 and approved by the Salix City Council on April 8 with all five members voting yes.

However, some residents are opposing the data center, citing concerns about spot zoning and the potential impact on the area's agricultural preservation. Ingrid Brenden, a resident who is part of an anti-data center group, claims that Mayor Kevin Nelson was not transparent about the annexation process. 'This plan clearly talks about efficiency, transparency, consistency, occupational diversity, and small-town character, that's important,' Brenden said.

Ashley Wolfe, who lives just outside city limits near the proposed data center, also expressed her opposition. 'We're not interested in living near something like that,' she said. When asked about the potential sale of land to Google, Mayor Nelson did not provide an exact price, but Brenden estimates it could be around $50 million.