Google submits Palo annexation request for data center site

PALO — Google has officially petitioned Palo to have land for a proposed data center project annexed into the city limits.

The city this week posted an online announcement about the application, which will require review and approval from both the city’s Planning & Zoning Commission and the City Council. The commission will review the matter Nov. 30, after which it heads to the council.

Google is looking to have roughly 650 acres in what is currently unincorporated Linn County annexed into the Palo city limits. The land is generally located southwest of the intersection of Palo Marsh and Power Plant roads.

The request includes 550 acres of land south of the Duane Arnold Energy Center for a proposed data center project along the Cedar River and another 100 acres of agricultural buffer to connect the site to Palo’s current city limits.

The tech giant intends to build up to six data center buildings at that location, with hopes to begin construction on the first building early next year. That timeline will change, however, should the annexation not move forward.

The county first announced Google’s interest in the site last year, but the company this spring told officials it would instead be seeking to have the land added into Palo’s city limits. Doing so moves jurisdiction of the land from the Linn County Board of Supervisors to the Palo City Council.

The campus would be constructed in phases depending on market demand. The Duane Arnold Energy Center would act as the primary power source for the project, and cooling water would be drawn from the Cedar River.

The data center project would be Google’s second in Linn County. The company is constructing a separate campus in southwest Cedar Rapids near the airport.