Blandin on Broadband

News and information on broadband use, policy, and trends

Blandin on Broadband

Google will no longer seek tax breaks in Hermantown (St Louis County)

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Northern News Now reports…

Google will no longer seek tax breaks for its proposed Hermantown data center, city officials announced Wednesday, following months of community concerns.

The proposal has drawn scrutiny for months. City leaders discussed an agreement in April that would return most of Google’s city property tax payments over 28 years. In return, Google would invest more than $42 million over those 28 years into the Hermantown School District.

A public hearing and vote were scheduled for May 4, but councilors tabled the proposal after hours of public comment.

According to the city, Google is exploring other ways to support Hermantown Community Schools through gifts outside a tax abatement agreement.

“I’m glad Google continues to listen to the needs of our community and region,” Mayor Wayne Boucher said.

City leaders say Google will pay about $3 million in taxes in its first year after construction, more than double Hermantown’s entire commercial industrial tax base combined.

There’s a comment from Stop the Hermantown Data Center…

“Google’s decision to terminate their plan to pursue tax abatement as an aspect of their proposed data center project does not change SHDC’s opposition to this project,” The statement said in part. “Residents are losing their residential sanctuary to an unwanted, inappropriately located, industrial behemoth that has usurped the public process.”

Decisions have yet to be decided…

The project’s special use permit request is scheduled to go before the Planning and Zoning Commission on Oct. 20. The City Council is scheduled to consider the permit and related agreements Oct. 26, following the commission’s recommendation.

St Cloud Planning Commission plans to amend Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code to address data centers

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WJON reports…

The city of St. Cloud has taken a step in regulating any future data center proposals.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the Planning Commission voted 4 to 2 to amend the city’s Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code to address larger hyper-scale data centers.

The commission held a public hearing at its previous meeting.
Under the amendments, larger hyper-scale data centers would only be allowed as conditional uses in the business parks on the outskirts of town at least a quarter-mile from residential areas. The new language puts in place five, ten, or more steps that any future proposal would have to go through to get city approval. …

If a proposed data center were to come to the city, it would trigger steps like an environmental review, a comprehensive plan amendment, a CUP permit, rezoning, and construction permits. Officials would also be able to ask the applicants about potential impacts like traffic, noise, and city services.

Senator Tina Smith cautions on betting to heavily on AI

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Forth reports…

Sen. Tina Smith’s office released statements cautioning that the President and Republicans are betting heavily on artificial intelligence, yet the technology has not yet proven it can deliver realistic returns, raising concerns about a possible financial bubble [1]. She urged that Americans should not be forced to pay for the fallout of risky bets with taxpayer‑funded bailouts [2]. Smith also noted that AI companies have not yet demonstrated the profits needed to support such a speculative market [3]. The statements were issued as part of a press release from the senator’s office [1]

Pew looks at dedicated state deployment funding including $323 million in MN border to border grants

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Pew reports on funding, especially state funding, for broadband…

Dedicated state deployment funding helps pick up where private-sector investment leaves off. When states establish eligibility and funding requirements, they are better able to target areas of need and promote goals including infrastructure scalability.

About Minnesota…

Several states dedicate resources to broadband deployment through recurring appropriations. Minnesota’s Border-to-Border program, the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI), and Wisconsin’s Broadband Expansion Grant program are examples of this approach. Although their program funding structures differ, all three maintain statutory mechanisms for directing state resources toward broadband deployment. For example, Minnesota allows appropriations to remain available until they are expended, while Virginia and Wisconsin rely on recurring appropriations and transfers through their respective budget processes.

Since 2014, Minnesota has awarded more than $323 million in broadband grants through the Border-to-Border program, using a combination of state and federal funding, with $50 million in state appropriations in 2025.

OPPORTUNITY: Apply now to participate in the 2027 CPC Cohort! Due Oct 30, 2026

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From the National Digital Inclusion Association (NDIA)…

Have you ever wanted to learn more about digital inclusion policy, wanted to feel more comfortable reaching out to policymakers and sharing your story with them, or learning strategies to ensure digital inclusion is included in local, state, Tribal, or federal policies? If the answer to any of these questions is “Yes!” then we would LOVE for you to apply to join us in our second cohort of the Connectivity Policy Corps! Applications are live and open until October 30th at 11:59PM PST.

 

About the Connectivity Policy Corps:

The Connectivity Policy Corps (CPC) advances digital equity by elevating local expertise and storytelling into policy action that informs debates surrounding digital inclusion, broadband adoption, broadband affordability, and other digital inclusion and broadband policies and opportunities. Through Connectivity Policy Corps (CPC), the National Digital Inclusion Alliance and Public Knowledge equip a network of digital inclusion champions with the tools and expertise to lead digital inclusion policy advocacy at the local, state, Tribal and federal levels. CPC members engage policymakers and federal agencies and advocate through storytelling. By amplifying local voices, the CPC aims to foster collective power that advances digital equity in meaningful and measurable ways. Learn more about the 2026 CPC Cohort here.

 

How to apply for the 2027 CPC Member Cohort:

  • Applications are due by Friday, October 30th, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST
  • To apply for the 2027 CPC Cohort complete this form
  • Read our blogpost for more background information and information about the application
  • Email shauna@digitalinclusion.org with any questions about CPC or the application.
  • The cohort will include up to 12 cohort members for Year 2, and applicants will be notified of the status of their application by December 2026.

Data centers come up in Olmsted and Dodge County forum hosted by Farmers Unions

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KAAL TV reports…

As Minnesota’s data center industry expands, questions are growing about how new developments could affect farmland, electricity costs and rural communities.

Voters took those questions directly to candidates on this year’s ballot during a forum hosted by the Olmsted and Dodge County Farmers Unions in Byron Tuesday, where they discussed the challenges facing farmers and what can be done to support the future of agriculture in Minnesota.

Among the concerns raised were rising operating costs, tariffs and access to health care and childcare in rural communities.

“We are here to help feed our nation and the world, and we want to make sure that we can do that at a at a reasonable price,” said Gail Donkers, director of membership at Minnesota Farmers Union.

But as data center development continues to expand across Minnesota, the potential impact on farmland and the state’s agriculture industry has become another point of concern.

Minnesota has more than 70 data centers in operation, with around another dozen large-scale projects proposed statewide, including the Google data center that could be built near Pine Island, according to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

For farmers, that growth could mean less farmland, more power lines and higher electricity costs.

Minneapolis Planning Commission closer to adopting zoning regulations specifically designed for modern data centers (Hennepin County)

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MinneapoliMedia reports…

Minneapolis is moving closer to adopting its first zoning regulations specifically designed for modern data centers after the City Planning Commission advanced a proposal Tuesday evening that would restrict where the facilities could operate, limit their size and impose additional conditions intended to protect surrounding neighborhoods.

The October 13 action comes as the city approaches a November 21 deadline, when a six-month moratorium on certain new data center developments is scheduled to expire.

The proposal represents a significant shift from the city’s existing zoning framework, which does not separately classify modern data centers and instead generally treats them as communication exchanges.

That older classification has allowed such facilities to be considered in numerous zoning districts without standards specifically addressing their electricity consumption, cooling systems, backup generators and other operational characteristics.

They look at four types of changes to the rules…

  • Commissioners Reduce Proposed Server-Space Limit
  • Additional Zoning Review Introduced
  • Data Centers Would Be Restricted to Two Downtown Districts
  • Building Design Rules Aim to Reduce Neighborhood Impacts

Next steps…

The proposal is expected to proceed to the City Council’s Business, Housing and Zoning Committee in early November.

The committee’s consideration is scheduled for November 6, according to the hearing account, while the full City Council is expected to consider the ordinance November 12.

Those dates place the council’s anticipated decision only days before the November 21 moratorium expiration.

EVENTS Oct 20 & 26: The Future of data centers in Blue Earth County

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KEYC reports…

Blue Earth County is hosting two open houses about the future of data centers in the community.

The county will be hosting open houses at the Mapleton Community Center on October 20th and the Lake Crystal City Hall on October 26, both from 4 p.m. to 6, and has put out an online survey.

The survey is seeking input on all facets of data centers from property value to energy consumption, and feedback can be given online or at the open houses.

The open houses come as a follow-up to the county’s moratorium on data centers that was passed in August, and the county says that feedback will be used to inform future discussion.

Lino Lakes City Council continues to discuss data centers (Anoka County)

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Quad Community Press reports...

The Lino Lakes City Council continues to have discussions around data centers.

At the council’s most recent work session, Community Development Director Michael Grochala reviewed the city’s current land use regulations and provided an overview of data centers.

“We’re hearing a lot more about them now,” Grochala said. “They’ve been around for years … but we’re seeing a lot more locally within the Twin Cities Metro Area and as a whole nationally.”

The article outlines major topics coming up in communities around the state and ends with the local views…

Council Member Julia Nelson clarified that no company has approached the city about building a data center. “I would be for anything that gives us the most power and control over this,” she added. 

Council Member Randy Rennaker, who brought this forward for discussion to the council in July, said he wants to make certain the city is protected and has the control of what type of facilities are built in the city. 

“I have friends and family who live in the city that can’t water their yard on a Monday or a Wednesday,” he added. “Some of these data centers are using exorbitant amounts of water. That’s just not right.” 

Council Member Chris Lyden asked Grochala if it would be possible to ban data centers in the specific zoning districts. 

Grochala said staff have not gone down the path of exploring prohibition, but the city could establish standards. 

There was no formal action taken by the council. It was discussion only. 

Data centers come up in City Council debates in Owatonna (Steele County)

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Owatonna People’s Press reports...

City Council candidates faced questions on some of the most pressing issues in the community at the final candidate forum.

Data centers got a lot of attention…

Drawing a hypothetical situation submitted by the audience, Rethemeier asked the candidates if they would support building a data center in Owatonna if it would bring in $5 million to the city annually.

Ward 1 candidate Brad Flemming said he would be “generally be in favor” of a data center if it presented a good deal for the city and didn’t impact residents’ utility bills. He acknowledged widespread “disdain” for data centers, and said he’d have a number of questions if one were proposed, including its size, location and potential strain it would cause for Owatonna Public Utilities.

Tim McManimon, also running for Ward 1, said the community should be cautious if a data center is proposed, noting such a project could have unintended consequences.

“What if that data center goes dark and we’re left with a stranded project and we increased infrastructure and now don’t have the income to support it?”

However, McManimon suggested he’d be more favorable to a smaller project, like a locally-owned server farm, rather than a large data center owned by a tech company.

Ward 1 candidates were generally opposed to data centers, although they offered a variety of rationales. Melissa Danielson responded with an “absolutely no,” arguing a data center would make Owatonna a less attractive place to live.

“People don’t want data centers in their backyard. People don’t want to live near a data center. People don’t want their home values dropped and not being able to sell their house because they’re next to a data center,” Danielson said.

Dale Fairbanks said $5 million paid to the city wouldn’t properly compensate the citizens of the community. Fairbanks said he would only support a data center if it were self-sustaining and located away from populated areas and farms, “nowhere near the town.”

Bruce Nelson said data centers place significant demands on electricity, water, land and infrastructure, and residents should not have to bear the costs.

“I support a moratorium on a new data center until an impact study is completed and concerns of residents are addressed,” Nelson said.

Rebecca Rand said she has questions about the long-term health impacts data centers have on people and the environment, as well as the utility costs. Rand said the city would have to seriously consider the financial benefit of welcoming a data center against the impact to the community, and based on the information available to her, she would not support one.

Data centers come up in Mayoral Debate in Harmony (Fillmore County)

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KTTC reports...

Voters in Harmony packed the community center Tuesday evening to question their mayoral candidates and hear how each one plans to tackle local issues.

The forum hosted by the Filmore County League of Women Voters featured candidates current Mayor Steve Donney, Kerry Kingsley, owner of Kingsley Mercantile, and Harmony Public Library assistant Sue Olinger.

During the hour-long forum, the candidates covered a wide range of topics, answering questions on everything from election security in Fillmore County to how to maintain strong emergency services in small towns.
The issue that drew the most attention was the city’s current data center ordinance. Candidates were pressed on where they stand, where they’re getting their information, potential incentives from developers, and what, if anything, might make them change their position. …
Harmony’s current data center ordinance is set to go in front of the planning and zoning committee at a special meeting on October 28 with a public hearing.

The University of Minnesota unveils a tool kit for local government decision makers on data centers

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MPR reports…

Seeing how data centers have churned up local politics and spurred newcomers to run for office, some city administrators came together to seek help. The end result is a new toolkit developed by researchers at the University of Minnesota to help local government officials better understand and weigh the pros and cons of having Google, Meta or some other big tech company build a massive data center in their community.

What does the toolkit include?

The guide, which will be made available to the public Wednesday, includes sections on how data centers can impact energy and water usage, and how these impacts can be regulated at the local level to manage environmental impacts. It also includes guiding questions for city leaders to ask if they get an inquiry from big tech about a data center proposal as well as examples of how to address data centers in local code.

Star Tribune/KARE 11 Poll shows found that 68% of likely MN voters are wary of AI

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The Minnesota Star Tribune reports…

More than two-thirds of Minnesota voters worry that artificial intelligence could someday destroy humanity, according to a new Star Tribune/KARE 11 Minnesota Poll, an extraordinary fear that joins more familiar anxieties about jobs, politics and the future of American life.

The poll found that 68% of likely voters are very or somewhat concerned that advanced AI could bring about humanity’s destruction. Nearly a quarter are very concerned. And 71% favor government regulation of the industry, a rare point of broad agreement among voters otherwise divided over much of the country’s direction.

The findings capture a peculiar moment in the technology’s ascent: AI is becoming an ordinary feature of daily life, even as many Americans remain uncertain about where it is headed — or whether anyone can control it.

Willmar Connect plans to go live this year, 2026! (Kandiyohi County)

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The Institute for Local Self Reliance (aka Muninetwork) reports…

Willmar, Minnesota officials say they’re making steady progress on construction of the city’s planned $24.5 million open access fiber network, with the first residential and business customers slated to come online sometime later this year.

Dubbed Willmar Connect, construction of the city-owned fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network broke ground in May 2026, marking a pivotal turn from years of feasibility studies and council debates to actual directional boring, conduit placement, and fiber splicing.

When we last checked in on Willmar back in March, the city council had just voted 4-3 to sign off on the $24.5 million open access project. After a summer of steady construction the city says it’s making meaningful progress toward a full commercial launch.

“We expect to light up our first users on the network this year,” Willmar City Administrator Kyle Box tells ILSR.

Construction of the network is occurring in three phases.

The article goes on to detail the three phases.

EVENT TODAY (Oct 14): Broadband and AI in the Midterm Election 11am CST

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An announcement from Broadband Breakfast…

Concerns over data centers and the risks of artificial intelligence, including artificial superintelligence, have transformed the midterm elections. On the one hand, local communities are fighting the power, water and land demands of new data centers, and voters are feeling those costs in their electric bills. On the other hand, we’re at a moment where broadband funds under the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program are finally being deployed. What do informed policy observers and political hands feel about the Republicans’ and the Democrats’ prospects on November 3?

Panelists

  • Blair Levin, NEW! Senior Fellow, Center on Technology Policy (CTP) at New York University
  • Joel Thayer, President, Digital Progress Institute
  • Nicholas P. Garcia, Senior Policy Counsel, Public Knowledge
  • Evan Swarztrauber, Principal, CorePoint Strategies
  • Drew Clark (moderator), CEO and Publisher, Broadband Breakfast