This is the third segment in my data center collection of public commentaries, including letters to the editors and opinion pieces.

It’s meant as a quick scan of what topics are rising to the top for others. I try to be balanced, but this is more illustrative of what crosses my path in the course of a month.

Ramstad: Readers wonder if an AI chatbot took my job as a columnist
Sep 24, 2026, Minnesota Star Tribune
Ramstad’s views on AI regulation and a new demographic study produced a lot of reader reaction.

Minnesota forum tackles growing anxiety over AI
Sep 24, St Cloud Times
A recent Minnesota forum highlighted public anxiety and policy questions surrounding artificial intelligence.

Jepson talks funding pressures, wakeboats and data centers at candidate forum
Sep 24, 2026, DL-Online
“We’d have to think long and hard about what that data center would bring to Becker County,” Jepson said.

Data centers: Can Democrats regulate and still build?
Sep 25, 2026 MinnPost
It’s not a choice between being pro-environment or pro-growth. With the right safeguards in place, data centers can be both.

Letter: Data center puts profits over human well-being – Post Bulletin
Sep 26, 2026 Post Bulletin
“Supporting building a hyperscale Google data center this close to homes means putting economic interests ahead of the health, safety, and quality of life of the residents.”

One Moment, Please… The Data Center Bait
Sep 28, 2026, Fillmore County Journal
“When we look at the demand for data centers, we need to look in the mirror.”

Candidate’s View: Hermantown data-center proposal a Duluth problem, too
Sep 28, 2026, Duluth News Tribune
From the column: “Even with tech giants scaling back plans and pledging mitigations, the sheer footprint of this industrial campus will alter your local landscape forever.”

Opinion | Small towns can’t wait. We need Walz’s help now.
Oct 2, 2026 MN Star Tribune
“We’re calling on the governor to enact a moratorium on data centers until we have time to build stronger, more centralized state oversight.”

Letter to the Editor: Contributing thoughts on data centers
Oct 3, 2026, Bemidji Pioneer
“The key point for Bemidji to consider would be the power generation package any data center would bring to the table. The right package would add to the local network’s capacity and resiliency, without increasing rates.”

Pro/Con: Let’s not make the cure of AI regulation worse than the disease
Oct 2, 2026, Duluth News Tribune
From the column: “Regulation (sometimes) serves nobody. AI regulation is a minefield that could lead to unintended consequences.”

Letters to the editor: Thankful for freeze on data centers
Oct 5, 2026 Moose Lake Star Tribune
“We want to thank the Carlton County Commissioners for voting in favor of Ordinance no. 42, the Carlton County Data Center Interim Use Study.”

Kathryn Hoffman: MCEA lawsuit seeks full picture on data center
Oct 6, 2026, Post Bulletin
Google didn’t respect our state’s democratic laws and processes. Instead, it published an environmental study that didn’t disclose even basic facts about their proposed project.

Counterpoint: Transparency matters in data center development
Oct 6, 2026, MinnPost
A recent MinnPost Voices piece suggested a proposed Minnesota project met that standard. It did not.

Data Centers Need Minnesotans. NDAs Won’t Win Their Trust.
Oct 6, 2026 Minnesota Times
Developers have legitimate business interests to protect. Minnesotans deserve a meaningful say in projects that could reshape their communities.

Kathryn Hoffman: MCEA lawsuit seeks full picture on data center
Oct 6, 2026 Post Bulletin
Google didn’t respect our state’s democratic laws and processes. Instead, it published an environmental study that didn’t disclose even basic facts about their proposed project.

Despite the controversy, data centers could be attractive to struggling rural towns
Oct 9, 2026, KAXE
All right, if there is one thing liberal Democrats, MAGA Republicans and most Americans in between might agree on, it’s data centers.

Reader’s View: Duluth already home to data centers
Oct 11, 2026, Duluth News Tribune
“Those upset about data centers might check it out.”

Letter: Full disclosure needed on data center proposals
Oct 13, 2026, Post Bulletin
“These tactics appear designed to deliberately bypass community input and shield corporate interests from public scrutiny.”

Brown: What are Minnesota’s human designers to do in this wave of AI slop?
Oct 15, 2026, MN Star Tribune
AI posters and advertisements are everywhere, with a distinctive look that’s hard to describe. So, I talked to some professionals.

Letter: Voters should weigh potential costs of Monticello’s proposed data center
Oct 15, 2026, Monticello Times
Monticello’s proposed data center has become a focal point in this year’s local election. Data centers are also focal points in elections across the country.

Perry: Will the AI backlash leave low-income students behind?
Oct 16, 2026, MN Star Tribune
Wealthier schools are at the forefront of focusing on a more human-centered education that in some cases is cutting out AI altogether.

Letter: Voters should weigh potential costs of Monticello’s proposed data center
Oct 15, 2026, Monticello Times
Monticello’s proposed data center has become a focal point in this year’s local election. Data centers are also focal points in elections across the country.

Data Center Rug Pull & Council Subpoena Power: A Message from Council Member Shaffer
Oct 17, 2026, Minneapolis Times
“That optimism evaporated at the Planning Commission on Tuesday evening.”

Some Projects Are Laying The groundwork for Data Centers
Oct 20, 2026 Stevens County Times
“Where does David and Goliath draw the line?”

Native News Online Survey: Readers Oppose Data Centers Near Tribal Communities, Demand Tribal Say
Oct 22, 2026, Native News Online
Survey finds environmental concerns and tribal sovereignty are central to readers’ views on data centers and artificial intelligence

Owatonna’s People’s Press reports…

Justin Ohnstad and Gary Spatenka are vying for the Steele County Commissioner District 1 seat, which is soon to be vacated by James Brady. Ahead of the election, both discussed their perspectives on public safety facilities in Owatonna, data centers and their primary focus if elected.

Here’s what Justin Ohnstad had to say…

As data centers are a major topic of interest in neighboring communities, Ohnstad was asked what his approach would be to the possibility of their construction in the future.

“To my knowledge we’re not being approached for that at this time. There are a lot of questions that need to be asked: location, utility consumption, rate increases and things of that nature,” he said. “How will it impact if it can be a positive impact on the residents of Steele County? It’s definitely worth exploring. Which is not a yes answer. However, let’s ask the questions and figure out what benefits it might bring to the county.”

Ohnstad also discussed the benefits and potential for overreach inherent in the use of Flock cameras.

“I don’t have a ton of research on them. However, my personal belief is I don’t need a camera to take a picture of my license plate three times a day when I come in and out of town,” he said. “That being said, if something were to happen to a community member like an abduction, (Flock cameras) would be an asset for law enforcement and potentially expedite the recovery which could be invaluable. I think government serves a role and it certainly has to have an involvement in people’s daily function, but they are tiptoeing on the line with being too much Big Brother for me.”

Here’s what Gary Spatenka had to say…

His opinion on data centers is contingent on future conversations with the community.

“The big thing right now we have going on in the county is going to be these data centers and that hasn’t really come up yet,” Spatenka said. “I think that we have to sit down as a county and have open meetings to discuss these data centers because we don’t really know a lot about them yet.”

Hometown Source reports…

Four candidates for two open seats on the Eagan City Council debated perspectives on local issues at a forum moderated by the League of Women Voters-Dakota County and broadcasted on Eagan Television inside Eagan High School studio.

Eagan constituents will chose two candidates on the Tuesday, Nov. 3, general election that includes incumbent council members, Paul Bakken and Gary Hansen, and candidates Scott Armitage and Jason Narverud.

Here’s what they said about data centers…

During the forum, candidates addressed many issues. One question was: “Eagan was the first city in Minnesota to pass a moratorium on new data center development. As a council member, do you support the moratorium as the right way to study impacts like electricity demand and water use before more data centers are built? When the moratorium expires, what specific standards would you want in place before Eagan allows new data center projects to move forward?”

Narverud said he agrees with the unanimous council vote to issue a one-year moratorium, saying “What you do in that year, I think, it is super important as well. What is your end goal? I think being patient is good, but at some point in time, are you deferring the answer and not actually answering it. I don’t want to become too patient. I want to make sure that we answer the questions. We have data centers here and they have been good neighbors for the most part, I would say. I think what we are talking about is hyperscale data centers, what people read in the news. What happens if they decide to walk away? What happens if there’s a leak? What happens if they want to decommission in a certain way? Those are the kind of details that we need to have those questions answered upfront,” Narverud said.

Bakken said the moratorium allowed the city time to study the data center issues, update city ordinances and protect public health and safety. “Some of those things are water usage, noise, light pollution, and other types of negative externalities that are not compatible with existing established surrounding areas. There is a little bit of frustration here because the city Eagan is currently being sued by a would-be data center, so those of us who are on the council are a little bit restrictive in what we can or cannot say,” Bakken said.

Armitage said during his campaigning and door knocking, residents talk about concerns regarding data centers. “Some of the issues, obviously, are the forever chemicals, the noises, the limited employment, the air pollution, but there are opportunities to limit water use and electricity when data centers are built, and the city of Eagan has that opportunity to do that,” Armitage said, adding more data and research needs to known on the longterm effects from data centers.

Hansen said the city’s moratorium allows the city time to collect information and figure out how to best regulate data centers. Hansen said Eagan has four data centers that can be considered smaller data centers that are an auxiliary to businesses. “But we have to be careful about where those data centers are located. They can’t be near residential neighborhoods because of the nuisance that they do, in terms of the noise and the vibration, and we know all about that,” Hansen said.

MN Star Tribune reports…

The rapid expansion of data centers has become a political flashpoint in Minnesota, as technology companies seek land, electricity and water to power the infrastructure behind artificial intelligence.

Supporters see an opportunity to attract investment and expand the state’s technology industry. Opponents worry that the enormous facilities could strain local resources, increase utility bills and leave communities with little influence over developments that could reshape their surroundings.

The issue has emerged in Minnesota’s U.S. Senate race, with Democratic Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan taking a more skeptical approach to the industry’s growth and Republican Michele Tafoya emphasizing economic development alongside local oversight.

Both candidates say residents should have a meaningful voice in decisions about new facilities and should not be left paying for their construction or operation. But Flanagan has called for stronger protections against corporate influence, while Tafoya has argued that Minnesota should welcome new investment if developers are transparent about the costs and consequences.

Their positions come as communities across Minnesota debate proposed projects and state policymakers grapple with how to regulate an industry whose demand for electricity and water could have far-reaching consequences.

The article outlines their views on the following data center issues:

• Data center development and local control

• Electricity costs and water consumption

• Transparency and corporate influence

• Regulations, tax incentives and environmental protections

• Should data center construction be paused?

Monticello Times reports…

Will a massive data center drive up residents’ electric bills? Could its demand for power threaten reliability? And if electricity becomes scarce, who gets priority?

Those were among questions City Council members put to Xcel Energy representatives Oct. 12 during a special meeting examining the potential effects of the proposed data center development.

Xcel officials said state regulations and recently approved customer protections are designed to prevent large electricity users from shifting their costs to existing customers. They also emphasized projects of this size generally require new power generation and extensive infrastructure planning.

But while the utility sought to reassure council members, questions remained about the proposed Monticello development, including how electricity would be allocated during a major grid emergency.

City Administrator Rachel Leonard said the discussion was arranged to address recurring concerns about the proposed Edmonson Business Center campus south of 85th Street NE and east of Highway 25.

Other questions included:

• Who pays for the power?
• Does more demand mean more generation?
• What happens during an emergency?
• Could data centers lower electric bills?

The conversation (and study) is not completed…

Although Xcel officials discussed how large data centers are generally served, the electrical requirements for Monticello’s proposed development have not been finalized.

Andre said the project is in the facility study stage, which Xcel expects to complete by the end of 2026. The study will produce preliminary estimates of necessary infrastructure, costs and timelines.

Council member Charlotte Gabler questioned how Xcel could plan for the project when its eventual end user has not been publicly identified.

Andre explained that the utility begins with anticipated electricity demand supplied by the developer, using factors such as acreage, building plans, zoning requirements and experience with similar projects.

Faribault Daily News reports...

Please plan to join us at Faribault Public Works (1200 Belview Trail) on Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. for a timely discussion about data center ordinances.

This Council Chat provides an opportunity for the public to interact with the City Council and City staff regarding the various proposed data center-related ordinances. Staff will have various stations focusing on key ordinances, such as land use, water and sewer, noise, lighting and other ordinances of interest. The public will gain a better understanding of the intent of the ordinances and why the ordinances must be legally defensible and enforceable.

The city holds Council Chats every month to further its commitment to community engagement. These inclusive and welcoming opportunities are held at various facilities and times to help ensure residents can become involved in the City’s continued success.

To see a full schedule of upcoming Council Chats, visit www.faribaultmn.gov/749/council-chats

WDIO reports…

The Hermantown City Council reviewed updates on the first-of-its-kind adaptive reuse and decommissioning framework for the proposed Google data center. Backed by a $210 million parent-company guarantee, the 50-year framework requires Google to restore the site if operations halt or tax payments lapse.

Explaining the financial backing behind this deal, city staff noted: “Effectively, this is a parent-company guarantee. Google will be signatory to this. Google will be part of this agreement. The finances of Google will be on the line for this agreement. And as such, they’re obligating $210 million for this agreement. And this obligation will increase annually based on the Consumer Price Index…”
…
To protect neighbors, the agreement leaves Google strictly at fault for any private well damage, requiring them to cover all repairs or pay to connect affected homes to city water. City leaders also shared details on a voluntary program for neighbors living within a half mile of the site.

The Tech Buzz reports...

Google’s plans to build an AI data center in Pine Island, Minnesota have sparked controversy, with the tech giant claiming the project will add clean energy to the grid and protect ratepayers. However, local residents and energy experts are raising concerns about whether the promised grid infrastructure upgrades are actually needed or if they primarily serve Google’s interests.

The article goes on to tell more about the project and ends with a broader perspective…

As Google moves forward with its Pine Island data center plans, the project serves as a test case for how communities and regulators evaluate Big Tech infrastructure proposals. The skepticism from experts and residents highlights the need for transparent analysis of who benefits from such developments and whether promised grid improvements serve public or private interests. The outcome in Minnesota may influence how similar projects are assessed in other communities facing data center proposals.

CNBC reports on Google’s response to public concerns about having a data center in their community…

Now Google is betting that a massive AI data center can help finance a cleaner, more reliable power grid. Its proposed deal with Xcel Energy would add more wind, solar and battery capacity than the data center is expected to use.

Under the agreement, Google would help pay for the added capacity and continue paying, even if it doesn’t use all of the power.

Pine Island, Minnesota, is a small town of about 4,000 residents an hour southeast of Minneapolis. Google hopes that its new 780-megawatt data center plan will build goodwill with the Pine Island community and keep the company on track to meet its goal of operating on carbon-free energy, 24 hours a day, seven days a week by 2030.

Google — whose cloud business powers its own Gemini AI and brought in nearly $25 billion in second-quarter revenue, an 82% increase from a year earlier — says it has found a model for doing this the right way. The company plans to finance the addition of 1,400 megawatts of wind, 200 megawatts of solar and 300 megawatts of battery storage to Xcel’s grid.

Those additions amount to more than the capacity of the data center itself, which Google said is because wind and solar do not generate energy at all times. Xcel Energy said the new power will serve all customers in the local area, not just Google. Xcel also said the upgrades will help advance the local grid’s carbon-free energy supply.

The proposed agreement between Google and Xcel includes minimum demand charges and exit fees, which Google says will keep the company on the hook for the infrastructure being built on its behalf, even if the AI boom cools. Google will pay for at least 75% of its contracted capacity, even if it uses less, and would owe up to eight years’ worth of those minimum demand charges if it terminates the agreement early.