As Henry County gathers information during its one-year moratorium on new data center development, several nearby communities provide examples of how data centers can differ in size, resource use and public response.
Within the broader region surrounding Geneseo are operating facilities in Bettendorf, Davenport and Muscatine County, a planned Meta data center campus in Davenport, a proposed QTS development in Clinton and recent public discussion about the potential for data center development in Rock Island County.
The projects range from relatively small existing facilities to proposed hyperscale developments.
Bettendorf: Bluebird Quad Cities Data Center
Bluebird Fiber operates the Bluebird Quad Cities Data Center at 2701 Devils Glen Road in Bettendorf — behind Wallace’s Garden Center.
The Business Record reported the Bettendorf facility at approximately 53,000 square feet, and Data Center Map notes 4 megawatts of power capacity.
The facility also participates in the Quad Cities Internet Exchange, according to PeeringDB.
The Current did not identify documented complaints in the sources reviewed concerning noise, water use or other impacts specifically attributed to operation of the Bettendorf facility.
Davenport: South Front Networks
South Front Networks operates another existing data center in Davenport.
In March 2026, KWQC examined electricity and water use at the facility as part of its reporting on data centers in the Quad Cities.
South Front Networks President Jason Hanke told KWQC that the company's Davenport operation consists of two small data centers, each approximately the size of a shipping container.
Hanke said the two facilities together consume approximately 20,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month. He also said the facilities use no water.
KWQC reported that the electricity consumption was greater than that of a typical house but less than that of a small grocery store.
Davenport: Meta Plans Much Larger Campus
A substantially larger data center development is planned elsewhere in Davenport.
Meta purchased approximately 328 acres between Hillandale Road and Enterprise Way for a future data center.
A regional economic development report on the Interstate 80 corridor identifies plans for two data center facilities totaling approximately 715,000 square feet on the site and an investment of at least $800 million.
KWQC reported in March 2026 that construction had not yet begun.
Clinton: QTS Exploring Hyperscale Development
Clinton, Iowa, is considering another significantly larger data center development.
QTS Data Centers states that it is exploring development of a data center campus in Clinton. The company has described its plans as being in the early stages.
As of June, QTS had not submitted a formal development plan to Clinton city staff, according to a statement from the company published by the City of Clinton.
The possibility of the development has generated substantial public discussion.
In June, the Clinton City Council considered a temporary moratorium on data center development. The proposed moratorium failed on its first reading. The City of Clinton subsequently emphasized that rejection of the moratorium did not constitute approval of the QTS project.
Clinton officials said regulations under development were expected to address water use, utilities, noise, lighting, setbacks, buffering, traffic, stormwater, emergency response, environmental compliance, decommissioning and enforcement.
Radio Iowa reported that approximately 100 people attended a July Clinton Planning Commission meeting concerning proposed data center regulations.
Residents requested additional provisions addressing water quality, noise and air quality. Resident Carol McGuire also called for stricter setback requirements and raised concerns about water and noise.
After hearing public comments, the Planning Commission unanimously continued the hearing to provide additional time to consider the proposed regulations and public suggestions.
QTS states that it intends to pay for its own energy use so costs associated with its project are not shifted to other ratepayers. The company also says existing infrastructure was among the reasons it considered the Clinton location.
Muscatine County: MiningStore Bitcoin Mining Facility
Muscatine County's experience has moved beyond the proposal and permitting stage.
In 2024, Aurum Capital Ventures received a special-use permit for a data center on a 13.38-acre residentially zoned property near University Drive and Solomon Avenue in Sweetland Township. At the time, Muscatine County's zoning ordinance did not specifically define data centers. The county later amended its ordinance to address data centers and cryptocurrency mining.
The facility now operates as MiningStore. In September 2025, the company announced the launch of a 10-megawatt air-cooled Bitcoin mining facility designed for more than 3,500 ASIC mining machines. The Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce and Industry held a ribbon cutting for AUR Northland, LLC dba MiningStore on Oct. 17, 2025.
MiningStore currently reports operating 62.5 MW across 11 facilities in Iowa.
Rock Island County: Data Center Questions Surface
Data center development has also become a subject of public discussion on the Illinois side of the Quad Cities.
On Aug. 19, KWQC reported on a community meeting in Rock Island where participants discussed the potential for data center development in Rock Island County and the broader effects of increasing data center construction.
The reporting did not identify a developer, exact site, project size or formal development application for a Rock Island County facility.
At the meeting, representatives from Prairie Rivers Network and other advocates discussed electricity and water demands associated with data centers.
The discussion also included the proposed Illinois POWER Act, legislation advocates say would address transparency and utility and resource issues associated with data center development.
Different Facilities, Different Questions
The documented examples surrounding Henry County demonstrate substantial differences among developments commonly classified as data centers.
South Front Networks says its two Davenport facilities are approximately shipping-container sized, consume about 20,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month combined and use no water.
The Bluebird facility in Bettendorf is approximately 53,000 square feet.
MiningStore's Muscatine Bitcoin mining facility is a 10 MW air-cooled operation designed for more than 3,500 ASIC miners.
Meta's planned Davenport campus calls for approximately 715,000 square feet of data center facilities on approximately 328 acres.
QTS is exploring a much larger development in Clinton, where city officials and residents are considering standards addressing water, electricity, noise, lighting, traffic, setbacks, emergency response and other issues.
And in Rock Island County, the discussion remains earlier still: recent reporting documents community discussion about the possibility of development, but does not identify a specific project, site or developer.
The Current's review found no documented operational complaints in the sources examined concerning the existing Bluebird and South Front Networks facilities.
In Clinton and Rock Island County, many of the documented concerns involve facilities that either have not been built or have not yet been formally identified.
For Henry County, those distinctions could become important.
Henry County Board Chair Kippy Breeden recently told The Current that the county's Planning and Development Committee has begun gathering information about data centers from surrounding sources.
Zoning Officer Kyle Stromquist is expected to place the issue on the committee's October agenda while the county continues collecting information and considering how it could apply to Henry County.
Sources
Bluebird Fiber — Company information for the Bluebird Quad Cities Data Center in Bettendorf.
Business Record — Iowa data center survey identifying the Bluebird facility as approximately 53,000 square feet.
Data Center Map — Bluebird facility information, including approximately 4 MW of capacity and 15,000 square feet of built-out data center space.
PeeringDB — Bluebird Quad Cities Data Center participation in the Quad Cities Internet Exchange.
KWQC, March 2026 — Reporting on Bluebird, South Front Networks and Meta data center activity in the Quad Cities.
I-80 Corridor Regional Development Report — Meta's planned Davenport development, including approximately 328 acres, 715,000 square feet and minimum investment of approximately $800 million.
City of Clinton, Iowa, June 12, 2026 — Official statement concerning QTS, the failed moratorium and issues under consideration in city regulations.
QTS Data Centers — Company information concerning the Clinton development.
Radio Iowa/Iowa Public Radio, July 16, 2026 — Reporting from the Clinton Planning Commission hearing.
Muscatine County Board of Supervisors and Board of Adjustment — Records concerning the original data center application, zoning, access and special-use approval.
Muscatine County Zoning Ordinances — May 2025 amendment addressing data centers and cryptocurrency mining.
Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Oct. 17, 2025 — Ribbon cutting for AUR Northland, LLC dba MiningStore and identification of the Muscatine facility as a 10 MW air-cooled Bitcoin mining operation.
MiningStore, Sept. 8, 2025 — Announcement of the 10 MW Iowa Bitcoin mining facility, including its planned 3,500-plus ASIC capacity and construction status.
KWQC, Aug. 19, 2026 — Reporting on the Rock Island community discussion concerning potential data center development, water use, electrical-grid demands and utility costs.
