Xcel Energy exec talks about the the sheer scale of investment going into data centers

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MPR News reports...

Bob Frenzel runs Xcel Energy, headquartered here in Minneapolis. Xcel is one of the country’s largest energy providers, distributing electricity to 6.1 million electric and natural gas customers across eight states.

MPR’s senior economic contributor Chris Farrell spoke with Frenzel at a Tuesday luncheon event sponsored by the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management.

The biggest standout from the conversation was the sheer scale of investment going into data centers — the specialized facilities powering the rise of artificial intelligence. We’re talking $600 billion in investment this year alone. Frenzel put that in perspective.

“That’s real, physical factories — concrete, steel, wires, cables,” Frenzel said. “Last year, the entire electric utility industry spent $200 billion on transmission and distribution infrastructure. So just consider the size and scale of the investment getting made.”

Frenzel said if it’s done right, your electric bill should actually come down. He pointed to the Google data center recently announced in Pine Island. Google will ultimately want 1,000 megawatts of capacity — that’s 11 percent of the entire Upper Midwest load. However, the company will pay for the new generation themselves.

Office of Broadband Development Update April 8: Upcoming events and funding updates

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From the Office of Broadband Development…

Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates

  • Line Extension Connection Program, Round 5 timeline and updates
  • Register today! April 29, Connecting One: Minnesota 2026 Broadband Summit
  • Virtual Broadband Development Training Series, continues Thursday April 9
  • Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) in Minnesota

Line Extension Connection Program, Round 5 timeline and updates

The Round 5 Provider Bidding Application and Line Extension Program Guide, with guidance for the fast-tracked round, have been posted to the Line Extension Connection Program webpage along with an expected timeline (dates subject to change):

  • Location Addresses Posted for Review: April 7, 2026
  • Challenges Due by end of day: April 17, 2026
  • Bidding Window Opens: April 22, 2026
  • Bids Due: May 22, 2026 by 1:30 p.m. CT 

Registration remains open for residents and businesses for future rounds of the Line Extension Connection Program and OBD expects to announce a sixth round of the program with standard timelines using state funds later in 2026.

More information and registration are available on the Line Extension Connection Program webpage. For assistance completing the application or to request a paper form to complete, please call 651-259-7610 or email DEED.broadband@state.mn.us.

Register today! April 29, Connecting One: Minnesota 2026 Broadband Summit

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Office of Broadband Development is hosting the Connecting One: Minnesota 2026 Broadband Summit on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. This in-person event will bring together national leaders, internet service providers, federal, state, tribal, and local government partners, and broadband advocates from across Minnesota. Connecting people to resources, information, and each other is critical to Minnesota’s economic stability and digital opportunity. The summit will be held at the Heritage Center of Brooklyn Center (6155 Earle Brown Drive, Brooklyn Center, MN 55434).

We are committed to providing equal access to this conference for all participants. If you need alternative formats or other reasonable accommodations, please contact mndeedevents@state.mn.us by the close of business on Friday, April 17, 2026.Virtual Broadband Development Training Series, continues Thursday April 9OBD has been working alongside other state agencies on streamlining environmental reviews and permitting efforts for broadband infrastructure projects across Minnesota. Originally held in 2024, this April, OBD and state agency partners will offer four new webinar sessions through a revised Broadband Development Training Series: Navigating PLUS (Permitting, Land Use, and State Systems).

The April 9 session will feature information from the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council (MIAC) and the Office of the State Archaeologist (OSA) on their work with broadband infrastructure projects. This session will be recorded and shared on the OBD Webinars and Recorded Events webpage.

Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) in Minnesota

The Office of Broadband Development has made a significant advance in initiating new broadband construction by submitting the selected BEAD project areas to the National Telecommunication and Information Administration’s Environmental Screening and Permitting Tracking Tool. This proactive step helps streamline the necessary environmental reviews and permitting processes, ensuring that Minnesota’s broadband expansion efforts continue to progress efficiently and remain on schedule. ​​The ESAPTT tool will streamline National Environmental Protections Act (NEPA) review for each project. For straightforward projects, this review can take a minimum of around 90 days, and longer for more complex sites, so getting our submissions in now keeps Minnesota’s BEAD program moving steadily toward deployment.OBD continues to update the OBD BEAD webpage as resources are made available. Resources most recently added include:

AI’s impact on unemployment rate is real but minimal and mixed

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Axios reports…

The impact of AI on the job market is starting to show up in the data analyzed by Wall Street firms — so far it’s pretty modest, but certainly real.

What they found: AI has both created and destroyed jobs over the past year.

  • It reduced employment in occupations that are easily substituted by AI, translating to a slight 0.16 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate.
  • At the same time, AI decreased unemployment by 0.06 point in jobs that are “augmented” by AI — roles that rely on things that machines cannot replace, like human judgment, interpersonal interaction and accountability.

Zoom out: Overall, AI raised the unemployment rate by just 0.1 percentage point, they find.

The article goes on to explain that there are two sides to AI. It was help some professions and eliminate others…

The bottom line: AI’s impact on the labor market is small so far, and it’s more complicated than the doomers want you to think.

Winona County gets help from the State to combat cyberattack

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Detroit Lakes Tribune reports…

Due to the scale and complexity of the incident, Winona County requested cyber protection support from the Minnesota National Guard to ensure continuity of municipal operations.

Gov. Tim Walz on Tuesday issued an executive order providing emergency assistance to Winona County following a cyberattack on Monday, April 6, that disrupted critical systems and digital services. The attack continued into Tuesday, April 7, significantly impairing the county’s ability to deliver vital emergency and municipal services.

“Cyberattacks are an evolving threat that can strike anywhere, at any time,” Walz said in a news release. “Swift coordination between state and local experts matters in these moments. That’s why I am authorizing the National Guard to support Winona County as they work to protect critical systems and maintain essential services.”

Winona County officials have been working around the clock in coordination with Minnesota Information Technology Services, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the League of Minnesota Cities, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and external cybersecurity experts. Due to the scale and complexity of the incident, Winona County requested cyber protection support from the Minnesota National Guard to ensure continuity of municipal operations.

The executive order activating this support takes effect immediately.

Martin County Economic Development Authority is heading to MN State Broadband Conference April 29

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The Fairmont Sentinel reports on EDA members deciding to send a representative to the Connecting One: Minnesota 2026 Broadband Summit. It’s a goo reminder to sign up and a good reminder of why you might want to attend or send a new board member in your community…

The Martin County Economic Development Authority (EDA) approved attending a broadband summit on April 29, sending a CEDA member to attend and report back.

“Some state leadership is going to be hosting a broadband summit up in the cities on April 29,” she said. “Informational purposes. They also are going to have some breakout sessions, permitting grant management, workforce development. Again, since Martin County has a good stance in broadband, I wanted to bring it to the EDA’s attention.”

Board Member Tim Terfehr asked who the committee leader is on that, and Amber Patten said Jim Langborg is. Monday was Langborg’s first meeting, after having joined CEDA around three months ago.

“I have quite a bit of governmental experience, most of it was in the fire service,” he said. “I did 31 years in fire service and 37 in EMS. During that process, I rose up as a fire chief for the last 10 years and got my master’s degree in public administration. Part of the retirement plan was to move from the West Coast to the Midwest, more affordable living. I’ve been with CEDA for about three months now, am enjoying it and learning quite a bit.”

All the present board members and staff introduced themselves, and decided that Langborg’s first big assignment should be attending this broadband summit. The EDA unanimously approved covering expenses for Langborg to attend the summit on April 29.

New MN Bill: Municipalities prohibited from entering into nondisclosure agreements or contracts that restrict the municipality from disclosing information about projects using public funding

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The MN House will discuss a new bill on Thursday…

Thursday, April 9, 2026 at 10:15 AM

Chair: Rep. Tina Liebling
Location: Capitol G3
Agenda:

HF4077 (Greenman): Municipalities prohibited from entering into nondisclosure agreements or contracts that restrict the municipality from disclosing information about projects using public funding.

For more info:

HF4077 (Greenman) – Municipalities prohibited from entering into nondisclosure agreements or contracts that restrict the municipality from disclosing information about projects using public funding.

New MN Bill: establishing an information technology modernization account HF4808

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The MN House reports on a legislation that would allow for surplus funds to be spent on upgrading government IT…

Torkelson introduced:

HF. 4808,A bill for an act relating to state government; establishing an information technology modernization account; allocating general fund surplus dollars to the account; requiring a report; transferring money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 16A.152, subdivision 2; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 16A.

The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

You can access the full bill – but here’s a key paragraph…

new text begin[16A.627] TECHNOLOGY OBSOLESCENCE REDUCTION KEYSTONE
ACCOUNT.
new text end

new text beginThe technology obsolescence reduction keystone account is established in the special revenue fund. Money in the account is available for appropriation by the legislature to fund the modernization or replacement of outdated or inadequate information technology infrastructure and systems used by the state or local units of government to administer state
programs.

New MN Bill: relating to local government authorizing online publication when no qualified newspaper is available HF4797

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From the MN House…

HF. 4797,A bill for an act relating to local government; authorizing online publication when no qualified newspaper is available; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 331A.01, subdivisions 1, 7, 12, by adding a subdivision; 331A.03; 331A.04, subdivision 4; 331A.06, subdivision 1; 331A.08, subdivision 3; 331A.09; Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 331A.10, subdivision 2; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 331A.12, subdivision 1.
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Elections Finance and Government Operations.

Citizens group aims to seeks to eliminate the Agriculture Department’s Rural Utilities Service

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Broadband Breakfast reports on an effort to eliminate a longstanding source of broadband funding…

A government watchdog group is calling on Congress to eliminate the Agriculture Department’s Rural Utilities Service, arguing that its broadband programs are redundant given billions already allocated through other federal initiatives.
Citizens Against Government Waste said existing USDA broadband efforts duplicate funding provided through the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program, the federal government’s primary initiative to expand high-speed internet access.
The group pointed to a 2023 Government Accountability Office report that identified more than 133 broadband-related programs across 15 federal agencies, raising concerns about overlap. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr has said total federal broadband funding could reach as much as $800 billion.

MN eNews April 2026: Legislative Updates and Upcoming State Broadband Conference

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The MN Legislature is in session. Hot topics related (or tangential) to broadband seem to surround data centers, artificial intelligence (AI) and security or privacy of online tools, such as social media. You can find links to the related bills in the State News section below.

EVENT April 29: MN Broadband Summit!
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Office of Broadband Development is hosting the Connecting One: Minnesota 2026 Broadband Summit on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.

State News   

National News

Vendor/Technology News

Office of Broadband Development Updates and News:

Local Broadband News

Aitkin County
Paul Bunyan Communications expanding fiber to more than 2,400 Homes and Businesses in Central Aitkin County

Great Scott Township
Paul Bunyan Communications finishes broadband expansion in Great Scott and unorganzied Township in St. Louis County
Broadband expanded to more than 100 households in Great Scott Township and Mountain Iron

Hermantown
Google plans to open a large data center in Hermantown

Hubbard County
Paul Bunyan Communications expands fiber to more than 3,200 Homes and Businesses in Northern Minnesota

St Louis County
St. Louis County names new development director with experience in broadband expansion
Paul Bunyan Communications expanding fiber to more than 600 more locations in 2026 in St Louis County
Two providers are looking at expanding to Eagles Nest Township (St Louis County)

Stearns County
Stearns County Administrator Mike Williams retires after tenure of broadband expansion

Twin Cities
Arvig expands broadband service to Twin Cities with connection to Eagan Data Center

Wadena
Wadena County talks about plans for future, giving a nod to broadband progress

Willmar
Willmar Council to consider agreements for Willmar Connect initiative on March 16, 2026
Willmar City Council offers contact to build community network to third option Kramer Group
Willmar Council rescinds contract offer to NC3 and goes with the Kramer Group to build network for community broadband

Upcoming Events, Opportunities and Resources

Podcast: Click Here: The village that built the internet

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Yesterday, I was driving to family brunch on Sunday and tuned in at just the right time to MPR to hear an interesting story of tribal broadband. Here’s the description from the Click Here website…

To live in the modern world, you have to be online. But in many places, that connection still doesn’t exist. So people aren’t waiting. They’re building their own internet—creating and running their own providers from the ground up. And in the process, redefining who gets to connect… and who gets to decide.

It’s a story of need, ingenuity and the power of community. They touch on non-tribal public broadband but the example they give is a tribal community. The podcast captures what I’ve heard from folks in the field about the importance of sovereignty.

Some Legislators looking again at SpaceX’s participation in BEAD funding

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Broadband Breakfast reports on more potential uncertainty for State Broadband leaders dealing to BEAD…

Nearly 20 House Democrats say they have “deep concern” about satellite ISP SpaceX’s participation in a $42.45 billion broadband grant program after the company asked state broadband offices to relax some of the program’s rules.

“Other providers that participated in BEAD presumably did so in good faith, with a clear understanding of the rules. Starlink’s proposed rider suggests that it did not,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter last week to Arielle Roth, head of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. “If Starlink cannot comply with the standards that other BEAD providers have accepted, NTIA and state broadband offices must reconsider these awards.”

In January, SpaceX asked states to modify rules around performance testing and other provisions of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program before signing contracts with the company. NTIA, which is managing the program at the federal level, then released an updated FAQ document telling states that they couldn’t negotiate deals with grant winners that conflicted with BEAD rules.

EVENT April 15: Local Dollars, Local Solutions: Digital Equity Tax Money & How to Negotiate Better AI Data Center Deals

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From the Institute for Local Self Reliance…

As Americans file their taxes this Tax Day, digital equity leaders across the nation will gather for a timely exploration of how public dollars can be used to strengthen communities – and how local advocates can negotiate better deals as AI data centers rapidly expand, lured with tax breaks.

Co-hosted by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance Community Broadband Networks Initiative and the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA), the next Building for Digital Equity livestream – “Local Dollars, Local Solutions: Digital Equity Tax Money & How to Negotiate Better AI Data Center Deals” – promises to offer insights from frontline forces working to ensure broadband and technology investments serve public needs rather than distant corporate interests.

Sponsored once again by UTOPIA Fiber, the B4DE livestream is slated for April 15 at 3 p.m. ET and will bring together national policy experts, local leaders, and community advocates working in the trenches of digital inclusion. 

Registration is now open above

The livestream will be available (and later archived) on Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn with live viewer questions answered by the invited speakers and presenters, which is still being finalized. We will also be live posting from the Community Broadband Networks Bluesky page.

EVENT April 7: MN House Committee on 3 bills relates to online privacy and contracts (HF4456, HF4544 & HF3698)

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I might not have mentioned all three bills, except they are being heard in the same Commerce Finance and Policy committee meeting...

Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 8:15 AM

Co-Chair: Rep. Erin Koegel holds the gavelCo-Chair: Rep. Tim O’DriscollLocation: Capitol 120Agenda:

Approval of Minutes – Thursday, March 26th, 2026

HF4456 (Elkins) – Data brokers required to register with the attorney general, account established, enforcement and civil penalties provided, and money appropriated.

HF4544 (Koegel) – License for artificial intelligence independent verification organizations established, advisory council established, rulemaking authorized, and reports required.

HF3698 (Gottfried) – Certain terms in libraries’ electronic book and digital audiobook license agreements or contracts prohibited.
Adjournment

Items may be added, removed, or taken up in any order at the Chair’s discretion.

HANDOUTS: Handouts MUST BE IN PDF FORMAT, have OCR capability, and emailed to the Committee Administrators at samuel.oneill@house.mn.gov and ben.frese@house.mn.gov by 12 p.m. (noon) the business day before the hearing. If you are bringing hard copies, bring 45 copies. Note: submitted written testimony is public and will be included in the official committee record. It may be posted to the committee webpage if received by deadline.

TESTIFYING: Testimony is limited. The number of testifiers and length of time permitted is at the discretion of the chair, and is subject to change. Please plan accordingly. If you would like to testify, please email the Committee Administrators at samuel.oneill@house.mn.gov and ben.frese@house.mn.gov by 12 p.m. (noon) the business day before the hearing.

AMENDMENTS: There is no amendment deadline for the Commerce Finance and Policy Committee. Amendments must be emailed to the Committee Administrators at samuel.oneill@house.mn.gov and ben.frese@house.mn.gov as soon as possible.

Bills:

  • HF3698 (Gottfried) – Certain terms in libraries’ electronic book and digital audiobook license agreements or contracts prohibited.

  • HF4456 (Elkins) – Data brokers required to register with the attorney general, account established, enforcement and civil penalties provided, and money appropriated.

  • HF4544 (Koegel) – License for artificial intelligence independent verification organizations established, advisory council established, rulemaking authorized, and reports required.

What is the digital last inch? And how does it impact counties?

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digitalLIFT is a nonprofit in San Francisco that focuses on digital inclusion. They have an interesting article that adds the last inch onto the analogy of first mile, middle mile, last mile…

We talk about miles, but digital equity is measured in inches. We use the term final inch to describe the moment when broadband moves beyond infrastructure and becomes meaningful for a person. The final inch is the small but critical distance between the network and the moment someone touches a device and successfully uses it, for example:

  • A resident taps a screen to schedule a telehealth appointment
  • A parent logs into a school portal
  • A job seeker submits an online application
  • A small business owner processes a digital payment

From a technical perspective, broadband may already be available. The fiber may pass the home. The drop may be installed. Wi-Fi may be active inside the building. But until the connection reaches a person’s hands, and they can use it confidently, the promise of broadband isn’t fulfilled.

The final inch is where infrastructure becomes opportunity. It’s the moment when a network connection turns into access to services, economic mobility, education, healthcare, or civic participation. In other words, the final inch is the human connection.

And why this matters to counties…

County governments are positioned at the intersection of:

  • Infrastructure deployment
  • Workforce development
  • Public health
  • Economic development
  • Aging services
  • Libraries
  • Schools
  • Social services

When counties focus only on the last mile, they risk leaving impact on the table. But when counties plan for the final inch, they multiply their return on investment.

That means pairing infrastructure funding with:

  • Digital literacy training
  • Device access programs
  • Digital navigators
  • Multilingual outreach
  • Enrollment assistance
  • In-home technical support

Broadband is not just a utility. It is now the delivery system for government services. If residents cannot use it, counties cannot fully serve them.