Ahead of a city council vote next Monday that could clear the way for Google to begin developing its data center in Hermantown, residents are learning more about what will happen when the data center is no longer needed.
A Google representative speaking at a city council meeting earlier this week announced that the company has developed a decommissioning agreement in response to city and resident feedback. City officials say the agreement provides reassurance about the future of the project site. Some residents remain unconvinced.
What Google says…
In response to that concern from residents, Hermantown Economic Development Director Chad Ronchetti says the city initiated the decommissioning agreement with Google.
“It provides protections,” Ronchetti said.
Under the agreement, if the site goes unused, Google will need to keep buildings maintained and file a plan to either repurpose the site or clear it. Ronchetti says the city’s preference is for reuse.
“It keeps the site productive, it keeps it active and it keeps it on the tax rolls,” Ronchetti said.
There is still concern…
“Once a wetland is destroyed by industry, there’s no way to bring it back,” Lofald said.
The decommissioning agreement would be a 50-year agreement. Google did not respond to a request for an interview.