Faribault’s Daily News reports…

Archer’s data center development would use as much daily power as the entire City of St. Cloud, home to 68,000 residents, according to the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy.

But when the Faribault City Council voted to approve its Environmental Assessment Worksheet on Aug. 12, 2025, it was listed as using the same amount of power as a large warehouse.

“I don’t feel with full comfort stating that we were presented with everything,” City Councilor Mandy Barnes said.

The council voted on Tuesday to allow Archer to submit a revised EAW by March 2027 before its development can proceed. But the emissions are not the only discrepancies with the original draft.

Luke Norquist, a fellow for the MCEA and main litigant against Archer, said the company also failed to provide detail with its air pollution mitigation, generator usage, and noise pollution. In particular, Norquist said air quality pollution needed much more information.