City Council Meeting Opens with Protest

Ames weighs public hearings for future data centers

After backlash over a proposed LightEdge data center near the airport, Ames is considering public hearings and tighter controls for all future data centers.

City Council meeting opens with protest

Gallery | 17 Photos August Anderson Demonstrators protest against the potential LightEdge data center before the Ames City Council meeting at Ames City Hall in Ames, Iowa, July 15, 2026. On June 14, the usual bimonthly Ames City Council meeting opened with a march of data center protestors arranged by the Democratic Socialists of America (Heart of Iowa Chapter).  Protesters met at Bandshell Park for donuts and to discuss why …