Wind turbines, solar fields and data centers dominated Rob Sand’s pre‑Town Hall huddle with reporters Tuesday — and he made clear the stakes are rising in northwest Iowa.
Sand said counties should keep control over wind and solar zoning, but he supports reasonable setback rules — a topic gaining traction in northwest Iowa as developers explore utility‑scale solar and new transmission corridors tied to regional wind projects.
He added that while he hasn’t settled on a specific distance, the principle is straightforward.
Sand also addressed the growing pushback against solar fields — something northwest Iowa has seen as developers look for large tracts of farmland near substations and high capacity lines. He said much of the opposition is being fueled by misinformation.
He argued Iowa should embrace homegrown energy, especially as rural counties weigh how to balance land use, grid capacity and economic development.
Sand also discussed data centers — an issue increasingly relevant across Iowa as companies seek massive electrical loads, water access and proximity to transmission lines. Meta, Google and Microsoft have already expanded in the state, and northwest Iowa has begun fielding early inquiries tied to available land and grid infrastructure.
Sand said development is welcome — but only if companies contribute fully.
He said Iowans want growth that strengthens communities, not drains them.
