More than 125 Ida County residents packed the Ida Grove Community Rec Center Tuesday night for a two‑hour question‑and‑answer session with PathOne Data Centers — the first public meeting since the board of supervisors enacted a countywide moratorium on new data centers in late June.
Supervisors emphasized they attended to listen, not to endorse any project, and reminded residents that no proposal has been officially submitted.
Board chair Devlun Whiteing opened the meeting by acknowledging the intensity of public interest and the board’s own need to learn.
Whiteing urged residents to keep the discussion respectful, saying the board wants to hear concerns directly.
PathOne Founding Partner Gyles Uhlenhopp introduced the company and tried to distinguish their concept from the large hyperscale data centers that have drawn scrutiny across Iowa. He said PathOne builds smaller “edge‑style” facilities in 10‑megawatt increments, with a maximum of 25 megawatts — a limit he encouraged supervisors to write directly into county ordinances.
PathOne Architect, Developer and Founding Partner Kevin Donnelly said the company is exploring two sites — one near Galva and one near Arthur — because both have existing industrial zoning and unused electrical capacity left behind by ethanol and former Bitcoin operations.
Water usage — one of the biggest concerns raised statewide — dominated early questions. Uhlenhopp said PathOne’s patented closed‑loop cooling system uses far less water than evaporative systems.
Uhlenhopp compared that to household use.
Residents asked what happens if the system fails or needs to be flushed. Uhlenhopp said any used mixture would be hauled off‑site.
Power demand was another major concern. North West Rural Electric Cooperative CEO and General Manager Lyle Korver told residents the Galva and Arthur substations have significant unused capacity because former industrial loads have disappeared.
Korver said a data center’s steady, 24‑hour load could help stabilize rates by filling in low‑demand periods.
Residents asked whether extreme weather could strain the grid, referencing Iowa’s late‑July heat wave. Korver said PathOne could participate in emergency load‑shedding plans.
Donnelly said PathOne prefers battery backup systems and would pay for any required upgrades.
Residents also questioned PathOne’s experience. Uhlenhopp said the company has three operating facilities in Texas but cannot disclose locations due to nondisclosure agreements and cybersecurity concerns.
Some residents expressed frustration that the company could not provide more verifiable information. Uhlenhopp said its rebranding from PathWay to PathOne is recent and that its website is still being updated.
Noise was another concern, especially for residents near POET in rural Arthur. Uhlenhopp said PathOne’s facilities would be quieter than existing industrial uses.
Residents also asked about long‑term maintenance, decommissioning plans and whether the company would commit to using U.S.‑made parts. Donnelly said decommissioning requirements should be written directly into county ordinances.
Donnelly said PathOne would not seek local tax abatements and estimated a 10‑megawatt facility could generate about $900,000 in annual property taxes.
Uhlenhopp promoted the company’s proposed Community Advisory Council, saying it wants skeptical residents to participate.
Whiteing reiterated that Ida County’s moratorium remains in place and that no project can move forward without full approval from the board of supervisors.
PathOne plans additional meetings, including an upcoming virtual session next week followed by another future in-person meeting, and says it will publish written answers to questions raised Tuesday on its website, pathonedatacenters.com/ida-county.
