As a follow up to a post on the court decision, Faribault Daily News reports on the Faribault Council’s response…

Following the Minnesota Court of Appeals ruling citing deficiencies in the environmental study for a proposed data center in Faribault, the City Council requested more information with a deadline of March 31, 2027.

In 2024, Archer Datacenters purchased land in Faribault to develop up to 50,000 square feet of data center buildings on 87 acres of land south of 150th Street W and east of Acorn Trail near Met Con. Based on criteria set by the Minnesota Environmental Review, the site would require an environmental assessment worksheet to study the potential environmental impacts based on square footage but not an environmental impact statement, which would be a further, more in-depth study.

The city of Faribault hired an independent firm to conduct the EAW, and the findings concluded that further study of an EIS would not be needed. However, the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy filed a legal challenge claiming that the EAW failed to adequately assess the potential air and noise pollution along with greenhouse emissions. The Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled that the EAW did not contain ample information for the city to determine whether an EIS would be needed.

At Tuesday’s City Council work session, council discussed their options moving forward to address the lawsuit. Community and Economic Development Director Dave Wanberg laid out the two choices. Either the city could “coordinate with Archer Datacenters to obtain more exhaustive and specific environmental information regarding Archer’s proposed data center” or they could require a discretionary EIS.