Democratic congressional candidate Dave Dawson says decisions about where data centers are built should rest with the communities most directly affected, while the federal government should help ensure environmental standards are met.
Dawson, who is running for Iowa’s Fourth Congressional District seat, discussed the issue with Sioux County Radio during a Democratic dinner in Sioux County on Tuesday night, September 22.
Asked about potential data center development in Sioux County and whether regulation should occur at the federal, state, or local level, Dawson emphasized the role of city and county governments.
“Ultimately what I’ve said before is that making a decision about where a business should be located really should be a local decision made by the city or the county that it’s going to most directly affect,” Dawson said.
He also outlined a federal role in addressing environmental impacts associated with those facilities.
“The role that the federal government really can play, is making sure that any environmental standards are continuing to be met, whether it’s the water that they’re using or how other impacts that they might have on the surrounding environment. But ultimately, the local governments should be making those decisions,” Dawson said.
His comments addressed who should make development decisions and oversee environmental protections, without endorsing or opposing a specific Sioux County data center proposal.
Dawson faces Republican Chris McGowan in the November election. Both Dawson and McGowan are vying to replace current Fourth District Congressman Randy Feenstra of Hull.
Dawson will participate in a debate with McGowan on Wednesday night with our media partner KTIV.
