SALIX, Iowa — Google faced scrutiny Wednesday over its proposed data center near this small western Iowa town after the company and utility MidAmerican Energy sent competing letters detailing the project's demands on local water and power.

Google introduced itself to Salix leaders as one of the parties behind the development, according to a letter published this week. MidAmerican Energy separately wrote to town leaders and residents identifying Google as the customer driving new energy infrastructure needs tied to the campus.

The exchange placed Salix, a community of a few hundred people, at the center of a broader national debate over the footprint of hyperscale computing facilities. Data centers supporting artificial intelligence workloads require large volumes of electricity and cooling water, and utilities have warned of rate pressure as demand climbs.

Google has pledged elsewhere to match its energy use with carbon-free sources. Local officials and residents were expected to press both Google and MidAmerican on water sourcing, grid upgrades, tax incentives and job commitments before any zoning or permitting decisions advance.

Similar projects in Iowa and neighboring states have drawn objections over resource use, echoing a Montana county's recent consideration of a data center pause. A Google spokesperson said the company works with local communities and utilities to manage the environmental impact of its facilities.

MidAmerican Energy, a Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary, has told regulators that large new loads require careful planning to protect existing customers.