MN Daily looks at environmental aspects of data centers

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The MN Daily (University of Minnesota student newspaper) reporter, Madina Elmi, talks with environmental activists, students and Minnesota Daily reporter Shayne Tarquinio about the status of data centers in Minnesota and the dangers they pose to the environment. They are speaking to environmentalists, not data center developers so there is a perspective to consider, but it’s an easy 16 minute podcast that covers a lot of ground. And a good look at what youth are thinking about. Here’s a description of the talk from the website…

Hi everyone, I’m Madina Elmi with the Minnesota Daily. Welcome back to another episode of In The Know, a podcast dedicated to the University of Minnesota. 

This year, our environment has been the center of attention in the news, social media, and in political landscapes. A couple weeks ago, wildfires in Canada and Northeast Minnesota caused the air quality in the Midwest to plummet.

But one of the largest concerns are AI data centers and the ongoing national discussion about their environmental repercussions. Over the last few months, environmental activists across the country have attended local city council hearings and made their voices heard to stop the construction of future data centers, and Minnesota residents are a part of that fight.

I wanted to better understand the impact these data centers could have and the legal battles being brought against them. So for this episode, I spoke to a recent environmental engineering graduate from the University of Minnesota, an attorney from the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, and a local reporter who has been investigating the local impact of data centers themselves.

Shane Tarquinio is an investigative reporter here at The Daily. She recently wrote a piece exploring the consequences of these data centers in Minnesota. Tarquinio said data centers have been around for years to store digital footprint, but as AI technology develops, it demands more from our environment.

CleanCore forms to joint venture to build a data center in Minnesota

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PR Newswire reports…

CleanCore Solutions, Inc. (NYSE American: ZONE) (“CleanCore” or the “Company”) today announced that it has entered into a 10-year Colocation Services Agreement with Cerebras Systems (NASDAQ: CBRS) for its data center campus in Minnesota. Cerebras is a leading AI compute company that describes itself as building the world’s fastest AI infrastructure with its team of pioneering researchers. Building on the Company’s recently announced West Texas data center campus, this agreement accelerates ZONE’s strategy of developing critical AI infrastructure across the United States.

The AI data center campus, designed to Tier 3 standards, will represent 100% pre-leased occupancy under a long-term agreement with Cerebras, providing revenue visibility from commencement of operations. The project is expected to generate approximately $800 million of contract value over the initial 10-year term, with the potential to exceed $3 billion, including renewal terms.

The campus will deliver approximately 55 MW of utility power capacity and 40 MW of critical IT load upon full buildout. Approximately 20 MW of utility power is already energized today, which the Company believes reduces certain development risks associated with the project and supports the initial 15 MW of critical IT load. The remaining capacity is expected to come online by Q1 of 2027.

Data center developer set to buy Minnesota Star Tribune’s North Loop printing plant (Hennepin County)

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The Minnesota Star Tribune reports…

A Virginia-based data center developer signed a purchase agreement for the Minnesota Star Tribune’s former printing plant, one of the last remaining large industrial sites in Minneapolis’ North Loop.

A Star Tribune spokesman on Wednesday confirmed the company reached a deal with Legacy Investing, the firm that transformed part of downtown’s Sleep Number Building into a data center for artificial intelligence and cloud computing.

A similar data center is at the heart of Legacy’s plans for the Star Tribune’s 13 acres, located at 800 N. 1st St., just west of the Mississippi River at the north edge of downtown Minneapolis. Managing partner Daniel English said the firm is envisioning a mixed-use development, incorporating elements such as housing or retail buoyed by anticipated profits from a data center. …

Demand for data centers has exploded in recent years to meet the vast computing needs of artificial intelligence. The boom is sparking controversies across the country, pitting economic promises against fears about water use, energy use and noise. This response is prompting state and local governments, including Minneapolis, to weigh new regulations for the rapidly expanding industry.

Some details…

The sale is expected to close in the fourth quarter of this year, pending provisions such as city approval of a conditional use permit, said Chris Iles, the Star Tribune’s vice president of communications and brand marketing. He declined to disclose the property’s prospective price.

MNIT activates statewide cybersecurity response to support affected communities and protect critical infrastructure

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A press release from MNIT…

A coordinated cyberattack targeted operational technology at more than 30 Minnesota community water systems on July 26 and 27. Minnesota IT Services (MNIT) immediately activated the state’s cybersecurity incident response capabilities. MNIT continues to collaborate with federal, state, local, Tribal, and private-sector partners to investigate the attack, support affected communities, and strengthen the security of Minnesota’s critical infrastructure.

As MNIT cybersecurity teams assess the cyber impacts, they are sharing threat intelligence, providing guidance on response efforts and best practices, and helping affected utilities contain, investigate, and remediate damages from the attack. MNIT is working closely with Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s Minnesota Fusion Center, Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and local water utilities throughout the response.

The investigation remains active, and responders continue to assess affected systems. The Minnesota Department of Health continues to work directly with affected water systems to help ensure public health remains protected. At this time, they are not aware of any active requests from Minnesota cities to have their residents modify their drinking water usage.

“Cyberattacks against critical infrastructure require a coordinated, whole-of-government response,” said John Israel, MNIT Assistant Commissioner and Minnesota Chief Information Security Officer. “MNIT is working side by side with our partners to share intelligence, support affected communities, and help utilities restore operations safely while strengthening defenses against future attacks. This incident demonstrates why Minnesota has invested in strong cybersecurity capabilities and partnerships. Our response worked as intended, enabling agencies at every level of government to rapidly coordinate, contain the incident, and help prevent more serious impacts to critical services.”

  • MNIT activated its incident response capabilities immediately after learning of the attack and continues to:
  • Coordinate technical response activities across government partners.
  • Share threat intelligence and indicators of compromise with affected organizations.
  • Support incident investigation, containment, recovery, and remediation efforts.
  • Monitor for related malicious cyber activity and coordinate with state and federal cybersecurity partners.
  • Provide cybersecurity expertise and technical assistance to affected communities.

Minnesota’s Whole-of-State Cybersecurity Program brings together federal, state, local, Tribal, and critical infrastructure partners to prepare for, respond to, and recover from cyber incidents. By sharing threat intelligence, coordinating technical expertise, and strengthening cyber resilience, MNIT helps protect the essential services Minnesotans rely on every day.

MNIT will continue working with its partners to investigate the incident, support recovery efforts, strengthen cybersecurity protections, and help ensure Minnesota’s critical infrastructure remains secure and resilient. Additional information will be shared as it becomes available.

 

 

MN Office of Broadband Development announces first signed BEAD deal

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I mentioned this yesterday in the OBD Updates, but I’m glad to highlight it again today, because it’s pretty big news. Broadband Breakfast reports…

Minnesota has notched a milestone: the state’s first signed BEAD deal.

The state’s Office of Broadband Development announced an executed contract and approved environmental review for East Central Energy’s fiber project expected to connect 3,750 locations between Minneapolis and Duluth.

Residents of Harmony are talking about data centers before the City County meeting on Aug 5 (Fillmore County)

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Harmony has an upcoming City County meeting in Harmony (Aug 5) to discuss data centers. In the meantime, people are talking. KAAL TV reports…

Harmony residents said the project has caused friction even before a data center ordinance has been approved.

“I’ve heard a lot of hesitancy. I have not heard too many for it at all,” Harmony resident, Kris Torgerson said.

Right now, the proposal is in its early stages with the city planning to write up rules for how a data center could operate in Harmony.

When talking with ABC 6 News many people expressed concerns about a potential project, especially when looking at other towns and the challenges they have had to face after approving plans for data centers.

“It’s a small town. Everything moves at a slower pace, so I think it’s kind of scary knowing that a data center is coming,” Harmony resident Jacquelyn Bernard said.

Harmony’s mayor said the city is working to make sure that any potential data center project would help the community, not hurt it. He emphasized that data center in Harmony would be much smaller than other data centers like Project Skyway in Pine Island.

Brookings looks at data center regulation in various states, including Minnesota

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Brookings looks at data center moratoriums versus oversight…

Data center construction is exploding amid the artificial intelligence (AI) boom—and so is the community backlash against these projects. Protests across the country and community concerns have prompted legislators to consider moratoriums on data center construction. At least 15 states have weighed pauses on data center development, and at least 100 localities have already approved their own.

While these efforts might be successful in affording communities the time they need to craft community benefit agreements or consider whether they want local data centers, they are not a complete solution to the problem at hand. Data centers require meaningful accountability and oversight in both the short and long term. These measures may temporarily quiet communities’ resistance, but they will not slow the national momentum behind projects that are being built or are already underway. For moratoriums to work, there must also be time spent gathering data, enhancing transparency, and creating greater collaboration among legislators, industry, and community residents. If these factors, at a minimum, are not achieved, community upheavals are likely to persist.

They look at proposed or passed legislation in fifteen states. Here’s what they noted about Minnesota…

Minnesota
HF 4888 / SF 4298
Prohibits issuing a permit for a data center until one calendar year after the Public Utility Commission submits a report that assesses various possible scenarios for data center development in the state, or until at least July 1, 2027.
Failed

WCB Announces Lifeline Minimum Service Standards and Indexed Budget

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The FCC announces…

By this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) announces the minimum service standards for Lifeline-supported services as required by the 2016 Lifeline Order.1 The 2016 Lifeline Order established minimum service standards for certain Lifeline-supported services and established annual increases in those standards either in the Commission’s rules or pursuant to calculations set out in the Order and the Commission’s rules.2 Accordingly, we announce the minimum service standards for fixed and mobile broadband data usage allowance. These standards will continue until December 1, 2027. Additionally, we announce that the budget for federal universal service support for the Lifeline program for calendar year 2027 will be $3,053,892,630.3

Fixed and mobile broadband minimum service standard for data capacity. On July 1, 2026, the Bureau issued a waiver for one year pausing the increases in the Lifeline minimum service standards for the fixed and mobile broadband data usage allowance. As such, the standards will continue to be 1280 GB per month for fixed broadband and 4.5 GB per month for mobile broadband.4

Mobile voice telephony minimum service standard. The 2016 Lifeline Order established an automatic update to the Lifeline minimum service standard for mobile voice service through November 30, 2018.5 Accordingly, pursuant to the 2016 Lifeline Order, on December 1, 2026, the Lifeline minimum service standard for mobile voice service will remain unchanged, at 1000 minutes per month.6

Annual budget. The 2016 Lifeline Order adopted an initial budget of $2.25 billion for the calendar year beginning January 1, 2017.7 The 2016 Lifeline Order also stated that the budget amount will be indexed to inflation in accordance with the Consumer Price Index for all items from the

Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.8 To perform this calculation, the Bureau used the annual percent change factor for the preceding year (here, 2025) to the year in which the calculation is being performed.9 Based on this calculation, the indexed budget for federal universal service support for the Lifeline program for the calendar year beginning January 1, 2026 was $2,976,503,538,10 and the indexed budget for the calendar year beginning January 1, 2027 will be $3,053,892,630.

For further information, please contact Sam Lewis, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, at samuel.lewis@fcc.gov.

Office of Broadband Development Update July 29 2026: East Central Energy (ECE)

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From the Office of Broadband Development…

Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates

  • Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) updates
  • Upcoming Tribal broadband summit + federal funding opportunities
  • Digital opportunity, community update
  • Line Extension Connection Program, registration open for residents and businesses

Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) updates

Minnesota is excited to announce its very first fiber project for BEAD has an executed contract and approved National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) decision memo. This East Central Energy (ECE) Fiber project in East Central Minnesota is expected to serve 3,750 locations:

“Bringing broadband to unserved and underserved communities takes true partnership. We extend our sincere thanks to the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development and DEED for their collaborative approach, responsiveness, and shared commitment to connecting rural Minnesota. Their assistance in helping us finalize and execute our BEAD application was invaluable.” Ty Houglum, Vice President/Chief Information Officer, ECE 

Minnesota BEAD Map with ECE Central Minnesota project.

OBD is continuing to work through required project scope changes and preparing contracts for execution. These scope changes often include removing locations newly identified as already served or re‑awarding locations when providers decline an award. Updated information and resources can be found on the OBD BEAD webpage.

Because the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) must approve these project scope changes, the review process can take several weeks. OBD will continue coordinating closely with partners to keep projects moving and to meet the federal contracting deadline of October 8, 2026.

Providers and community members can contact OBD (DEED.broadband@state.mn.us) with questions.

Upcoming Tribal broadband summit + federal funding opportunities

Early bird registration is open for the 2026 NTTA Tribal Broadband Regional Southern Plains Summit, September 21-23 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The summit will look to advance broadband connectivity and digital sovereignty throughout Indian Country and cover topics like data sovereignty, AI & emerging technology, broadband equity & infrastructure, and cultural continuity. More information and registration is available online.

Additionally, NTIA Announced Two New Funding Opportunities to Expand Broadband Connectivity on Tribal Lands. Applications are due September 17, 2026. More information is available on NTIA’s BroadbandUSA webpage including:

Digital opportunity, community update

OBD is actively monitoring developments given the recent federal court ruling impacting the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program. At this time, our office has not received updated guidance from NTIA regarding whether Digital Equity funds or related grants may be reinstated.

We understand how important this is to Minnesota. As new information becomes available, OBD will relay updates through this newsletter and on the OBD Digital Opportunity webpage.

As we navigate these ongoing developments together, please feel free to reach out to our office with questions at DEED.broadband@state.mn.us or by phone at 651-259-7610.

Line Extension Connection Program, registration open for residents and businesses

Registration remains open for residents and businesses for future rounds of the Line Extension Connection Program.

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.

More information and registration are available on the Line Extension Connection Program webpage.

EVENT July 29: Protecting Schools and Libraries: The Cybersecurity Pilot Program and the Road Ahead

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From the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society…

Schools Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition

Wednesday, July 29, 2026 – 2:00pm to 3:00pm EST

Cybersecurity threats to schools and libraries are growing, and the stakes could not be higher. Student data, library patron records, and critical network infrastructure are all on the line. The FCC’s Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program is a meaningful first step toward addressing these concerns, but there’s much more to be done.

Join SHLB for a conversation about where the pilot stands today: how much has been funded, what services and equipment are supported, what schools and libraries are experiencing on the ground, and the program’s limitations that leave many institutions without the protection they need.

Then we turn to what comes next. Should cybersecurity be funded under E-Rate on a permanent basis and how? We will explore the options and make the case for why schools and libraries deserve a long-term solution.

This is going to be an exciting discussion with some of the sharpest minds working on this issue. Whether you are an anchor institution, practitioner, policymaker, or a community member, you will not want to miss it.

Protecting Schools and Libraries: The Cybersecurity Pilot Program and the Road Ahead

Local residents ask leaders to remove permitting barriers for Gateway Fiber expansion in North Metro area (Dakota County)

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Morningstar reports...

Residents and small businesses across Minnesota are urging local leaders to remove barriers to expanded fiber internet access.

Residents and businesses across many north metro communities are calling on local leaders to remove permitting barriers that continue to delay fiber internet construction. Gateway Fiber, an industry-leading fiber internet service provider, is receiving overwhelming support from community members who want access to faster, more reliable internet service before winter weather halts construction. Without timely action, thousands of homes and businesses could face another year of waiting for expanded broadband choice as certain municipalities continue to impose permitting demands that exceed established requirements and unnecessarily stop broadband deployment. …

To raise awareness and encourage community engagement, Gateway Fiber shared the petition with prospective customers in Blaine, Brooklyn Park, Coon Rapids, Maple Grove and four other cities where thousands of homes are being affected by the permitting delays. Within 72 hours, nearly 500 residents and business owners signed the petition, urging local officials to allow construction to move forward and expand access to high-speed fiber internet.

FCC isn’t currently considering environmental effects of data center in space

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Today, on the 1A show I mentioned earlier, someone mused at the idea of stationing data centers in space. So, I was interested when I saw Communications Daily mention it today…

While space sustainability advocates are pressing the FCC to consider the possible environmental impacts of proposed orbital data center mega constellations, policy experts — including some of those sustainability advocates — said the agency isn’t likely to do so. However, congressional action or a court decision could have the same effect and are more viable options, they said.

The FCC didn’t comment. An agency NPRM adopted last August (see 2508070052) proposed that space-based operations be excluded from the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) because they’re “extraterritorial activities” whose effects are entirely outside U.S. jurisdiction.

Pine Island residents have differing views on data center noise and health concerns (Goodhue County)

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KAALl Channel 6 News reports…

Residents in Pine Island continue voicing concerns about the proposed Project Skyway data center, with low-frequency noise emerging as one of the biggest issues.

Experts say the sound produced by large data centers has been linked to short-term effects such as sleep disruption, stress and difficulty concentrating. While the long-term health impacts remain unknown, researchers say those short-term effects are well documented.

“It’s not about how loud it is, but how impossible it is to escape,” Dr. Heidi Ahonen, Founder of the Resonance Research Institute said.

In a statement, Google said it is working to comply with Minnesota law and take steps to prevent noise from becoming an issue. However, experts note that if problems arise, Google would ultimately be responsible for addressing them.

The response has left the community divided. Some residents say they are not convinced the company will follow through if issues develop.

Five things to know as data centers spread across rural America from MinnPost

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I’m going to keep this at the highest level, but the article doesn’t; check out MinnPost to get the details…

1. They use enormous amounts of water

2. Researchers know little about water pollution

3. Rezoning battles are becoming more common

4. Most projects are planned for rural areas

5. AI is expanding faster than regulations

 

The data center debate, part one on 1A (Part two on Aug 4)

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I was in the car at the right time today to learn all about community response to data centers on 1A (locally on MPR). They point out that there are 3,000 data centers in the US and spoke with varied and passionate people about their experience. Turns out near Washington DC (hometown to 1A) is a hotbed of data centers. They don’t talk about what’s happening in Minnesota but sometimes it’s easier to take in the information when I’m not invested in the characters.

This is the first of a two-part series. (Listen online.) You can also listen to part two next Tuesday (Aug 4 2026) from 11am to noon on MPR. Below is the description from 1A…

Data centers are everywhere in the news right now and for good reason. Many projects are planned or under construction across the country. They’re backed by hundreds of billions of dollars in investment from the biggest tech companies in the world. They power not just artificial intelligence, but pretty much everything that happens online – your streaming, your email, your cloud storage.

But they’re not without their drawbacks. They consume a lot of electricity and water. They’re showing up in communities whose residents don’t always feel they had a say in green lighting their construction.

Opposition across the country is growing. Billions of dollars worth of projects were blocked or postponed in just the first three months of 2026 alone.

What are data centers costing communities and what are they delivering? And when people push back, is it about the facilities? Or what these facilities represent?