Javascript is required to use this website.

U.S. energy secretary cites Cedar Rapids AI data center

During tour, he say QTS project brings jobs without raising electric bills, straining water supply

Tom Barton Gazette Des Moines Bureau
Apr 24, 2026
Apr 24, 2026 Updated Jul 14, 2026
0

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

lgaz-20260424-US-Secretary-of-Energy-Chris-Wright-at-QTS-Cedar-Rapids_0014.JPG — U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright talks with construction workers after a press event April 24 at the QTS Data Center Campus in Cedar Rapids. He cited the project as a national example of how artificial intelligence infrastructure can be built without driving up electricity costs and straining water resources.
Savannah Blake/The Gazette

kAmrtsp# #p!xs$ — &]$] t?6C8J $64C6E2CJ r9C:D (C:89E D2:5 r652C #2A:5D’ >2DD:G6 "%$ 52E2 46?E6C 42>AFD :D D6EE:?8 2 ?2E:@?2= 6I2>A=6 7@C 9@H 2CE:7:4:2= :?E6==:86?46 :?7C2DECF4EFC6 42? 36 3F:=E H:E9@FE 5C:G:?8 FA 6=64EC:4:EJ AC:46D @C DEC2:?:?8 =@42= H2E6C C6D@FC46D — 2== H9:=6 96=A:?8 DAFC H92E 96 42==65 2 3C@256C “C6:?5FDEC:2=:K2E:@? @7 p>6C:42]”k^Am

kAm(C:89E E@FC65 E96 "%$ s2E2 r6?E6C 42>AFD uC:52J 2=@?8D:56 =@42=[ DE2E6 2?5 7656C2= @77:4:2=D[ 2D H6== 2D 6I64FE:G6D 7C@> "%$[ p==:2?E t?6C8J 2?5 q=24<DE@?6[ H9:49 @H?D "%$ 2D 2 A@CE7@=:@ 4@>A2?J]k^Am

kAm%96 AC@;64E — F?56C 4@?DECF4E:@? @? e`a 24C6D :? E96 q:8 r652C x?5FDEC:2= r6?E6C :? D@FE9H6DE r652C #2A:5D ?62C E96 2:CA@CE — :D A=2??65 E@ :?4=F56 D6G6? 52E2 46?E6C 3F:=5:?8D]k^Am

People are also reading…

Why Trey Thompson chose to return to Iowa after taking redshirt in 2025-26
Why USA sucking wind vs. Turkey is not end of the world
How an NFL head coach helped Tim Lester land his first QB as Iowa’s offensive coordinator
The paint is already peeling in Trump's renovated Washington Reflecting Pool
ICE was investigating him over an email. Now, he's suing
U.S. conducts further strikes on Iran
Iowa’s Journey Houston using All-Freshman snub as motivation ahead of year two with Hawkeyes
Saint Mary's transfer Andrew McKeever hopes to have another "growth spurt" with Iowa
Back to the ‘Prairie’: New ‘Little House’ offers grittier portrait of prairie life
College Football 27 is an elite game — with one concerning caveat
Trump wants to isolate International Criminal Court
Bipartisan housing bill to become law without Trump's signature
Officers: Man amassed trash in Arizona national forest
Review: Early winner emerges on ‘Dancing’ spinoff, ‘The Next Pro’
Iowa State ranks last in 2026 Big 12 football media poll

kAmxE C6AC6D6?ED @?6 @7 E96 =2C86DE 64@?@>:4 56G6=@A>6?E AC@;64ED :? x@H2 9:DE@CJ] r:EJ @77:4:2=D D2J k2 E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E9682K6EE6]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^bf4hfh23\_357\da35\h6a5\h66c_b7_24beQm2?E:4:A2E65 AC:G2E6 :?G6DE>6?E 92D C:D6? E@ S`]fd 3:==:@?k^2m[ FA 7C@> E96 @C:8:?2= >:?:>F> Sfd_ >:==:@? 4@>>:E>6?E]k^Am

lgaz-20260424-US-Secretary-of-Energy-Chris-Wright-at-QTS-Cedar-Rapids_0003.JPG — QTS workers attend a press event at the QTS Data Center Campus in Cedar Rapids on Friday, April 24, 2026. U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright visited the facility and cited it as a national example of a data center project that is providing jobs and investment, without raising electric rates or threatening local water supplies.
Savannah Blake/The Gazette

kAm"%$ D2JD >@C6 E92? c[d__ 4@?DECF4E:@? H@C<6CD 2C6 4FCC6?E=J @? D:E6[ H:E9 f[___ 6IA64E65 2E A62<[ 2?5 E92E E96 42>AFD H:== DFAA@CE >@C6 E92? `__ 7F==\E:>6 ;@3D @?46 @A6C2E:@?2=]k^Am

kAm"%$ r@\rt~ %9@>2D “%28” vC62D@? D2:5 E96 4@>A2?J 3C@<6 8C@F?5 :? yF=J =2DE J62C 2?5 6IA64ED E@ 4@>A=6E6 4@?DECF4E:@? @7 2== D6G6? 3F:=5:?8D H:E9:? 23@FE `e >@?E9D]k^Am

63ae0760-d974-55db-9266-f970e3ab1781 — This rendering shows one of the QTS data center buildings being built in southwest Cedar Rapids.
Submitted

kAm“%9:D :D @FC =2C86DE AC@;64E :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D[” vC62D@? E@=5 C6A@CE6CD 27E6C E96 AC6DD 6G6?E]k^Am

kAmw6 D2:5 E96 42>AFD H:== F=E:>2E6=J FD6 23@FE `[_d_ >682H2EED @7 A@H6C 7C@> p==:2?E t?6C8J 2?5 E92E >@C6 E92? “g[___[d__ >2? 9@FCD” 92G6 2=C625J 8@?6 :?E@ 4@?DECF4E:@?]k^Am

kAm“*@F’C6 D6EE:?8 2 AC64656?E] *@F’C6 D9@H:?8 H92E p>6C:42 42? 5@ 2?5 H:== 5@[” (C:89E E@=5 H@C<6CD[ 4:EJ 2?5 DE2E6 @77:4:2=D[ 2?5 @E96CD 82E96C65 uC:52J]k^Am

kAm“r652C #2A:5D :D E96 4FEE:?8 6586[” 96 25565] “r652C #2A:5D :D D9@H:?8 H6 92G6 E96 A6@A=6[ E96 E9@F89E7F= 8@G6C?>6?E =6256CD9:A]”k^Am

kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm(C:89E 7C2>65 E96 AC@;64E 2D A2CE @7 !C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>A’D AFD9 E@ 6IA2?5 5@>6DE:4 >2?F724EFC:?8 2?5 6?6C8J AC@5F4E:@?]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm“x7 H6 H2?E E@ 92G6 D64FC6 3@2C56CD[ ?2E:@?2= D64FC:EJ 2?5 @AA@CEF?:E:6D 7@C @FC <:5D 2?5 @FC 8C2?549:=5C6?[ H6 >FDE 3F:=5 3:8 E9:?8D :? E9:D 4@F?ECJ 282:?[” (C:89E D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmw6 D2:5 2CE:7:4:2= :?E6==:86?46 2?5 52E2 46?E6CD 2C6 24E:?8 2D 2 42E2=JDE 7@C 3C@256C :?5FDEC:2= 8C@HE9]k^Am

kAm“xE’D 5C2H:?8 E9:D >2DD:G6 :?G6DE>6?E 96C6[ 3FE H6’C6 8@:?8 E@ D66 >@56C? >2?F724EFC:?8 96C6[” (C:89E D2:5] “… (6 H:== 92G6 :?5FDEC:6D :? r652C #2A:5D 7:G6 J62CD 7C@> ?@H E92E ?@?6 @7 FD 42? E9:?< @7 C:89E ?@H]”k^Am

kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E9682K6EE6]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^dhae4h5`\`3b2\d`5a\2ghh\73bchg5ccd_hQms2E2 46?E6C AC@;64ED 5C@G6 r652C #2A:5D 4@>>6C4:2= 8C@HE9 :? a_adk^2mk^Am

k9bmx>A24E @? A@H6C 3:==Dk^9bm

kAmpD 52E2 46?E6C 8C@HE9 2446=6C2E6D ?2E:@?H:56[ 4C:E:4D 2?5 4@?DF>6C 25G@42E6D 92G6 C2:D65 4@?46C?D E92E E96 6?@C>@FD 6=64EC:4:EJ 56>2?5D 7C@> px 724:=:E:6D 4@F=5 C2:D6 C6D:56?E:2= FE:=:EJ 3:==D :7 FE:=:E:6D A2DD :?7C2DECF4EFC6 4@DED @? E@ 9@FD69@=5D 2?5 D>2== 3FD:?6DD6D]k^Am

kAm(C:89E 24<?@H=65865 E9@D6 4@?46C?D 5:C64E=J]k^Am

kAm“|J A6CD@?2= G:6H :D E96 EC256\@77D 2C6 2H6D@>6 — E96 >@?6J[ E96 ;@3 @AA@CEF?:E:6D[ E96 D?@H32== E92E’D 4@>:?8] qFE A6@A=6 2C6 C:89E7F==J 4@?46C?65 23@FE 6?6C8J AC:46D[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

lgaz-20260424-US-Secretary-of-Energy-Chris-Wright-at-QTS-Cedar-Rapids_0007.JPG — U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright speaks during a press event at the QTS Data Center Campus in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Friday, April 24, 2026. U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright visited the facility with several politicians and gave remarks after.
Savannah Blake/The Gazette

kAmw6 A@:?E65 E@ E96 (9:E6 w@FD6’D |2C49 a_ae #2E6A2J6C !C@E64E:@? !=6586[ 2 G@=F?E2CJ 28C66>6?E :? H9:49 >2;@C E649?@=@8J 4@>A2?:6D 4@>>:EE65 E@ 4@G6C:?8 E96 7F== 4@DED @7 ?6H 6?6C8J :?7C2DECF4EFC6 7@C E96:C 52E2 46?E6CD C2E96C E92? D66:?8 E9@D6 6IA6?D6D D9:7E65 E@ 6I:DE:?8 FE:=:EJ 4FDE@>6CD]k^Am

kAm%96 A=6586 C6BF:C6D A2CE:4:A2E:?8 4@>A2?:6D E@ A2J 7@C ?6H 86?6C2E:@? 2?5 EC2?D>:DD:@? FA8C256D[ ?68@E:2E6 D6A2C2E6 C2E6 DECF4EFC6D[ 2?5 >2<6 324<FA 86?6C2E:@? 2G2:=23=6 5FC:?8 A62< 56>2?5 E@ DFAA@CE 8C:5 C6=:23:=:EJ] $FAA@CE6CD[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 t5:D@? t=64EC:4 x?DE:EFE6[ D2J :E AC@E64ED 72>:=:6D 2?5 D>2== 3FD:?6DD6D 7C@> DF3D:5:K:?8 px 8C@HE9[ H9:=6 4C:E:4D 2C8F6 :ED G@=F?E2CJ ?2EFC6 =62G6D =@?8\E6C> AC@E64E:@?D F?46CE2:?]k^Am

kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm(C:89E AC2:D65 E96 2CC2?86>6?E]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm“~9[ :E’D 72?E2DE:4[” 96 D2:5] “… x7 J@F’C6 8@:?8 E@ 56G6=@A 52E2 46?E6CD[ H6 42??@E 5C:G6 FA =@42= 6=64EC:4:EJ AC:46D[ 3642FD6 :E 92D 366? 5@?6 :? E96 A2DE[ 2?5 A6@A=6 2C6 FAD6E 23@FE :E[ 2?5 E96J D9@F=5 36 FAD6E 23@FE :E]”k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qmw6 D2:5 56G6=@A6CD 2C6 ?@H 6IA64E65 E@ 7:?2?46 255:E:@?2= A@H6C ?665D 2?5 96=A FE:=:E:6D 7C66K6 @C =@H6C C2E6D]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAm“p== E96 9JA6CD42=6 56G6=@A6CD 92G6 D:8?65 E92E[” (C:89E D2:5] “%96J ?665 E@ =62? :?[ ?@E @?=J :? 7:?2?4:?8 H92E6G6C 255:E:@?2= A@H6C E96J ?665[ 3FE >@C6 E92? E92E[ 2?5 3C:?8 >@?6J FA 7C@?E[ :?G6DE :? 4@>>F?:E:6D 7@C ;@3 EC2:?:?8 2?5 ;@3 @AA@CEF?:E:6D]”k^Am

kAmvC66D@?[ E96 "%$ r@\rt~[ D2:5 E92E AC:?4:A=6 8F:565 E96 r652C #2A:5D AC@;64E 7C@> E96 368:??:?8]k^Am

lgaz-20260424-US-Secretary-of-Energy-Chris-Wright-at-QTS-Cedar-Rapids_0011.JPG — U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright (left) speaks with QTS Co-CEO Thomas “Tag” Greason after a press event at the QTS Data Center Campus in Cedar Rapids on Friday, April 24, 2026.
Savannah Blake/The Gazette

kAm“(96? H6 DE2CE65 E9:D AC@;64E[ H6 925 @?6 8@2= :? >:?5 … ‘w@H 5@ J@F 3F:=5 3:8[ >62?:?87F= :?7C2DECF4EFC6 H:E9@FE 3FC56?:?8 E96 E2IA2J6CD[ E96 C2E6A2J6CD 2?5 @FC 4@>>F?:E:6Dn’” vC62D@? D2:5] “(6 42? A2J @FC @H? H2J] (6 42? :?G6DE :? 86?6C2E:@?]”k^Am

lgaz-20260424-US-Secretary-of-Energy-Chris-Wright-at-QTS-Cedar-Rapids_0005.JPG — Lisa Barton, president and CEO of Alliant Energy, speaks during a press event at the QTS Data Center Campus in Cedar Rapids on Friday, April 24, 2026.
Savannah Blake/The Gazette

kAm{:D2 q2CE@?[ AC6D:56?E 2?5 rt~ @7 p==:2?E t?6C8J[ D2:5 E96 4@>A2?J 92D 4@>>:EE65 E@ 6?DFC:?8 “6I:DE:?8 4FDE@>6CD H:== ?@E A2J 7@C ?6H =2C86 6?6C8J FD6C 8C@HE9[” 3J 4@>>:EE:?8 E@ 2 7:G6\J62C C2E6 7C66K6]k^Am

kAm“x? 6DD6?46[ K6C@ A6C46?E C2E6 :?4C62D6D 7@C E96 ?6IE 7:G6 J62CD 7@C 7@=<D :? @FC D6CG:46 E6CC:E@C:6D[” q2CE@? D2:5]k^Am

kAm$96 D2:5 E96 4@>A2?J DFAA@CED E96 25>:?:DEC2E:@?’D C2E6A2J6C A=6586 3642FD6 :E “AC@E64ED 277@C523:=:EJ 7@C 72>:=:6D[ 72C>6CD[ D>2== 3FD:?6DD6D]”k^Am

kAmvC62D@? 25565 E92E <66A:?8 4@DED 5@H? =@?8 E6C> H:== C6BF:C6 4@?E:?F65 :?G6DE>6?E “:? @FC EC2?D>:DD:@?[ 2?5 "%$ 92D C2:D65 @FC 92?5 E@ 4@?E:?F6 5FC:?8 E96 @A6C2E:@? E@ >2<6 DFC6 E92E H6’C6 :?G6DE:?8 :? FA8C256D 2?5 E9:?8D E92E 2C6 C6BF:C65 E@ <66A E9:D AC@;64E F?56C 4@?EC@=]”k^Am

kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>QmvC68 q=2?<[ 49:67 6I64FE:G6 @77:46C @7 q=24<DE@?6 x?7C2DECF4EFC6 $EC2E68:6D[ D2:5 E96 4@>A2?J G:6HD E96 r652C #2A:5D 42>AFD 2D 46?EC2= E@ p>6C:42’D px 7FEFC6]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm“x7 J@F =@@< 2E p>6C:42’D px 7FEFC6[ :E C62==J C6BF:C6D E96 C2A:5 2446=6C2E:@? @7 3F:=5:?8 52E2 46?E6CD 2E D42=6[” q=2?< D2:5] “p?5 E9:D :D C62==J 9@H H6 A@H6C E96 px C6G@=FE:@?] … "%$ :D 4@>>:EE65 E@ A2J:?8 :ED @H? H2J] (6’C6 8@:?8 E@ 86?6C2E6 >@C6 A@H6C E92? H6’C6 8@:?8 E@ FD6] p== E96D6 E9:?8D E@ >2<6 E96 4@>>F?:EJ 36EE6C @77 7C@> E96 E9:D :?G6DE>6?E]”k^DA2?mk^Am

kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E9682K6EE6]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^f_4dd456\ch25\c_g6\ga5`\f6ha3f365236Qms2E2 46?E6C 4@?DECF4E:@? C6D92A6D r652C #2A:5D 9@FD:?8 >2C<6Ek^2mk^Am

k9bm(2E6C FD6 4@?46C?Dk^9bm

kAm(2E6C 4@?DF>AE:@? 2=D@ 92D 364@>6 2 7=2D9A@:?E 2D 52E2 46?E6CD 6IA2?5[ A2CE:4F=2C=J :? 28C:4F=EFC6 C68:@?D =:<6 x@H2 H96C6 H2E6C 2G2:=23:=:EJ :D 2 >2;@C :DDF6]k^Am

kAm(C:89E D2:5 E96 r652C #2A:5D "%$ 42>AFD FD6D 2 4=@D65\=@@A 4@@=:?8 DJDE6> 56D:8?65 E@ >:?:>:K6 H2E6C 56>2?5] s2E2 46?E6CD[ 96 D2:5[ 42? 36 56D:8?65 E9:D H2J 2?JH96C6 H2E6C C6D@FC46D 2C6 2 4@?46C?]k^Am

kAm“x7 J@F’C6 4@?46C?65 23@FE H2E6C C6D@FC46D[ E96C6’D ?@ AC@3=6> 3F:=5:?8 52E2 46?E6CD =:<6 E9:D @?6 H:E9 4=@D65\=@@A DJDE6>D[ 2?5 E96J 2C6 ?@E >62?:?87F= 4@?DF>6CD @7 H2E6C[” (C:89E D2:5]k^Am

kAmvC62D@? D2:5 "%$’ 4=@D65\=@@A 4@@=:?8 DJDE6> :D 56D:8?65 E@ C6FD6 E96 D2>6 H2E6C C2E96C E92? 5:D492C86 :E E9C@F89 6G2A@C2E:@?] w6 D2:5 H2E6C :D 3C@F89E :? E@ 4@@= E96 D6CG6CD[ E96? C6EFC?65 E@ 2 962E 6I492?86C 2?5 C64:C4F=2E65 E9C@F89 E96 4@@=:?8 DJDE6>] &?=:<6 EC25:E:@?2= 6G2A@C2E:G6 4@@=:?8 DJDE6>D[ 96 D2:5[ E96 H2E6C :D ?@E C6=62D65 :?E@ E96 2E>@DA96C6]k^Am

kAmvC62D@? 4@>A2C65 E96 :?:E:2= H2E6C 7:== 7@C 6249 3F:=5:?8 E@ 23@FE @?6 ~=J>A:4\D:K65 DH:>>:?8 A@@=[ D2J:?8 E92E @?46 E96 DJDE6> :D 7:==65[ :E D9@F=5 ?@E ?665 E@ 36 C6A=6?:D965] w6 D2:5 E96 @?=J @?8@:?8 H2E6C FD6 2E E96 52E2 46?E6C H@F=5 36 7@C 5C:?<:?8 H2E6C[ 92?5H2D9:?8 2?5 7=FD9:?8 E@:=6ED]k^Am

lgaz-20260424-US-Secretary-of-Energy-Chris-Wright-at-QTS-Cedar-Rapids_0004.JPG — Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell speaks during a press event at the QTS Data Center Campus in Cedar Rapids on Friday, April 24, 2026.
Savannah Blake/The Gazette

kAmr652C #2A:5D |2J@C %:772?J ~’s@??6== D2:5 E96 4:EJ E@@< 2 56=:36C2E6 2AAC@249 E@ E96 "%$ AC@;64E[ AFD9:?8 324< @? 4@?46C?D E92E 52E2 46?E6CD 2C6 D:>A=J “9F86[ D42CJ[ 6?6C8J\DF4<:?8” 56G6=@A>6?ED]k^Am

kAm$96 A@:?E65 E@ E96 42>AFD’ 4=@D65\=@@A H2E6C DJDE6> 2?5 ?@E65 E96 D:E6 H2D AC6G:@FD=J 2 9@CD6 72C>[ D2J:?8 E96 AC@;64E C67=64ED r652C #2A:5D’ 7@4FD @? C6DA@?D:3=6 8C@HE9 C2E96C E92? “8C@HE9 7@C 8C@HE9’D D2<6]”k^Am

kAm“(6 E2<6 @FC =2?5 2?5 @FC C6D@FC46D D6C:@FD=J :? r652C #2A:5D[ x@H2[” ~’s@??6== D2:5] “vC@HE9 7@C 8C@HE9’D D2<6 … :D ?@E H9@ H6 2C6]”k^Am

k9bmt?6C8J >:I[ H:?5 E2I 4C65:EDk^9bm

kAm(C:89E 2=D@ 5676?565 E96 25>:?:DEC2E:@?’D 6?6C8J A@=:4J 2D ?646DD2CJ E@ DFAA@CE :?5FDEC:2= 8C@HE9 2?5 277@C523=6 6=64EC:4:EJ]k^Am

kAmw6 D2:5 ?6H A@H6C A=2?ED DFAA@CE:?8 52E2 46?E6C 8C@HE9 :? x@H2 2C6 6IA64E65 E@ C6=J 962G:=J @? ?2EFC2= 82D[ H9:=6 2=D@ H@C<:?8 2=@?8D:56 x@H2’D =2C86 H:?5 6?6C8J D64E@C]k^Am

kAm“%96 <6J E9:?8 23@FE 6?6C8J :D E@ 92G6 5:G6CD:EJ[” (C:89E D2:5] “$@ x’> 2 72? @7 4@2= A@H6C[ x’> 2 72? @7 ?F4=62C A@H6C[ x’> 2 72? @7 82D A@H6C] x H@C<65 @? D@=2C A@H6C b_ J62CD 28@]”k^Am

lgaz-20260424-US-Secretary-of-Energy-Chris-Wright-at-QTS-Cedar-Rapids_0013.JPG — U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright speaks during a press event at the QTS Data Center Campus in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Friday, April 24, 2026. U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright visited the facility with several politicians and gave remarks after.
Savannah Blake/The Gazette

kAmpD<65 23@FE E96 :>A24E @7 E96 “~?6 q:8 q62FE:7F= q:== p4E[” H9:49 2446=6C2E65 E96 A92D6@FE @7 7656C2= H:?5 E2I 4C65:ED 3J C6BF:C:?8 AC@;64ED E@ 368:? 4@?DECF4E:@? 3J yF=J c[ a_ae[ @C 36 :? D6CG:46 3J E96 6?5 @7 a_af[ (C:89E D2:5 H:?5 D9@F=5 ?@H DE2?5 @? :ED @H? 64@?@>:42==J]k^Am

kAm“(6’G6 925 bc[ bd J62CD @7 DF3D:5:6D 7@C H:?5 A@H6C[” 96 D2:5] “x E9:?< :E’D 8C62E E92E E96 DF3D:5:6D H:== 8@ 2H2J]”k^Am

kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qmw6 2C8F65 H:?5 AC@;64ED 925 366? 7@C465 :?E@ >2C<6ED H96C6 E96J 5C@G6 FA 4@DED]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm“xE 567:?:E6=J 8@E 3F:=E E@@ >2?J A=246D[ E@@ 72C[ 2?5 :E 8@E 7@C465 @? E96 8C:5 :? 2 =@E @7 DE2E6D[ 2?5 :E AFD965 FA 6=64EC:4:EJ AC:46D[” (C:89E D2:5] “u@CEF?2E6=J[ E92E 5:5?’E 92AA6? 96C6 :? x@H2]”k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm%96 =2H 92D 4C62E65 2 CFD9 2>@?8 56G6=@A6CD ?2E:@?H:56 E@ D64FC6 AC@;64ED 367@C6 7656C2= :?46?E:G6D 6IA:C6[ A2CE:4F=2C=J 7@C H:?5 AC@;64ED 2?5 >2?F724EFC:?8 E:65 E@ H:?5 6?6C8J 4@>A@?6?ED]k^DA2?mk^Am

k9bm}F4=62C C6DE2CE DFAA@CEk^9bm

kAm(C:89E 2=D@ k2 E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E9682K6EE6]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^bh2_5g45\4`4e\cgdh\g73`\c54f_bb_526aQmG@:465 DFAA@CE 7@C C6DE2CE:?8 E96 ?62C3J sF2?6 pC?@=5 t?6C8J r6?E6C ?F4=62C A=2?Ek^2m[ D2J:?8 E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 t?6C8J 4@F=5 96=A 7:?2?46 :E E9C@F89 =@H\:?E6C6DE 7656C2= =@2?D]k^Am

kAm“%96 &?:E65 $E2E6D s6A2CE>6?E @7 t?6C8J H:== =:<6=J 36 2 A2CE?6C :? E96 C6DE2CE @7 E96 sF2?6 pC?@=5 A=2?E[ :7 E92E 8@6D 7@CH2C5[” (C:89E D2:5] “x C62==J 9@A6 :E 5@6D]”k^Am

kAmw6 D2:5 C6DE2CE:?8 6I:DE:?8 ?F4=62C 724:=:E:6D :D @7E6? 72DE6C 2?5 4962A6C E92? 3F:=5:?8 ?6H @?6D]k^Am

kAm“x E9:?< :E H@F=5 36 8C62E 7@C x@H2[ 8C62E 7@C E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 6=64EC:4:EJ 8C:5[ E@ 86E E92E sF2?6 pC?@=5 A=2?E 8@:?8[” (C:89E D2:5] kDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm“ … (6 C62==J H2?E E@ D66 ?6H ?F4=62C A=2?ED 3F:=E[ 2?5 2=D@ 6I:DE:?8 2DD6ED E92E 42? 36 C6DE2CE65] {6E’D C6DE2CE E96?] |@C6 6?6C8J >62?D >@C6 ;@3D[ >@C6 >2?F724EFC:?8[ >@C6 @AA@CEF?:E:6D 7@C x@H2?D 2E =@H6C 4@DED]”k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm{:<6 E96 @E96C EH@ ?F4=62C A=2?ED 36:?8 C6G:G65 ?2E:@?2==J[ C62DD6DD>6?E @7 sF2?6 pC?@=5 :D 36:?8 5C:G6? :? A2CE 3J 6IA=@D:G6 56>2?5 7C@> 2CE:7:4:2= :?E6==:86?46 4=@F5 52E2 46?E6CD] {2DE ~4E@36C[ A=2?E @H?6C }6IEtC2 t?6C8J #6D@FC46D 2?5 v@@8=6 2??@F?465 2 ad\J62C 28C66>6?E 7@C 6?6C8J 7C@> E96 C6G:G65 A=2?E 368:??:?8 :? a_ah[ H:E9 }6IEtC2 6DE:>2E:?8 E96 C6DE2CE H:== 4@DE S`]e 3:==:@?]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmv@@8=6 :D 3F:=5:?8 :ED @H? 52E2 46?E6C 42>AFD :? D@FE9H6DE r652C #2A:5D ?6IE E@ "%$ 2?5 :D 2=D@ 4@?D:56C:?8 2 D64@?5 D:E6 :? F?:?4@CA@C2E65 {:?? r@F?EJ ?62C E96 sF2?6 pC?@=5 724:=:EJ]k^Am

lgaz-20260424-US-Secretary-of-Energy-Chris-Wright-at-QTS-Cedar-Rapids_0006.JPG — U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, speaks during a press event April 24 at the QTS Data Center Campus in Cedar Rapids.
Savannah Blake/The Gazette

kAmx@H2 #6AF3=:42? &]$] #6A] pD9=6J w:?D@?[ @7 |2C:@?[ H9@ E@FC65 E96 "%$ 52E2 46?E6C 42>AFD 2?5 2EE6?565 uC:52J’D AC6DD 6G6?E[ 42==65 E96 "%$ 42>AFD “:?4C65:3=6 7@C =@42= 64@?@>:4 56G6=@A>6?E” 2?5 D2:5 E96 px 3F:=5 @FE :D 2=D@ 2 ?2E:@?2= D64FC:EJ :DDF6 2D E96 &]$] 4@>A6E6D H:E9 r9:?2]k^Am

kAm“(6 42?’E =6E E96> H:? E92E H2C[” w:?D@? D2:5] kDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm“(6 ?665 E@ >2<6 DFC6 E9@D6 ?6IE 6?92?46>6?ED 2?5 :??@G2E:@?D 2C6 92AA6?:?8 96C6[ H:E9 p>6C:42? :?86?F:EJ[ ?@E 92AA6?:?8 H:E9 q6:;:?8]”k^DA2?mk^Am

Tom Barton covers state government and politics. Comments: (319) 398-8499; tom.barton@thegazette.com

0 Comments