Concerns over data centers and the risks of artificial intelligence, including artificial superintelligence, have transformed the midterm elections. On the one hand, local communities are fighting the power, water and land demands of new data centers, and voters are feeling those costs in their electric bills. On the other hand, we’re at a moment where broadband funds under the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program are finally being deployed. What do informed policy observers and political hands feel about the Republicans’ and the Democrats’ prospects on November 3?
Panelists
Blair Levin, NEW! Senior Fellow, Center on Technology Policy (CTP) at New York University
Joel Thayer, President, Digital Progress Institute
Nicholas P. Garcia, Senior Policy Counsel, Public Knowledge
The Monticello Planning Commission recommended approval of three applications this month that would establish the framework for a hyperscale data center campus south of 85th Street NE and east of Highway 25.
The applications, submitted by Monticello Tech LLC under the name Edmonson Business Center, cover approximately 547 acres extending south to a public water basin. The development takes its name from nearby Edmonson Avenue.
Commissioners voted 4-1 on Tuesday, Oct. 6 to recommend approval of a preliminary plat, rezoning and a conditional use permit. Commissioner Rick Kothenbeutel was the lone dissenter, opposing all three.
Although the applications were considered together, each serves a different purpose.
Here are those three areas, which are fleshed out more in the original article:
Preliminary plat: How the land would be divided
Rezoning: What could be built
Conditional use permit: How the data center could operate
Counties and cities across Minnesota are assessing their need for policies, ordinances, or moratoriums to address how they should handle permit applications for constructing data centers.
Their construction and operation have drawn strong reactions across the nation, with many communities holding contentious public meetings at permit hearings and citizens protesting them.
“Everybody knows that it is a matter of time before we get an application,” Swift County Environmental Services Director Scott Collins told the county board of commissioners at their Oct. 6 meeting.
“Maybe we never will,” he then added, “but some counties are starting to get really serious about it.” Big Stone County has already put a moratorium on data centers, he said.
Collins’ office would be the first to see a request for a permit to construct a data center. So far, no permit applications have come to the county yet, he added.
Data centers come in many sizes and serve different purposes. However, the ones that are getting attention today are classified as hyperscale data centers. They can range in size from 10,000 to 1 million square feet (23 acres.)
Members: Christopher Meyer (Chair), Tom Wagner (Vice-Chair), Bill Baxley, Aurin Chowdhury, Angela Conley, Jason Garcia, Michael Gordon, Kellie Jones, David Sheppard, and Lucie Skjefte (Quorum: 5)
A. The Department of Community Planning and Economic Development recommends that the City Planning Commission and City Council adopt staff findings to amend Title 20 of the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances, as follows, and further recommends that Chapter 535, Overlay Districts, be returned to the authors:
Text amendment to Title 20, Zoning Code, to adopt regulations governing data centers and uses associated with distribution and use of electric power.
Recommended motion: The City Planning Commission recommends that the City Council approve the text amendment to adopt regulations governing certain uses associated with distribution and use of electric power, including data centers, electric or gas substations, backup generators, utility boxes, and battery energy storage systems.
Chapter 540 related to the Zoning Code: Built Form Overlay Districts
Chapter 545 related to the Zoning Code: Use Regulations
Chapter 550 related to the Zoning Code: Development Standards
Chapter 565 related to the Zoning Code: Definitions
FBA Presents – The Cost of Permitting: New Research on What Makes or Breaks a Fiber BuildTuesday, October 13, 2026at 02:00 PM EDT
What is the true cost of permitting for a fiber build? Join the Fiber Broadband Association and Cartesian for a first look at new research examining how state and local permitting practices affect the economics of wireline deployment. Drawing on more than 100 real-world permitting examples across 30 states and territories, the study models 12 common permitting scenarios to quantify how fees, requirements, delays, and approval processes can affect network investment.
The report finds that certain permitting practices can turn projects that would otherwise be economically viable into investments that are no longer viable. The webinar will unpack the findings, identify the practices with the greatest impact on project economics, and explore how those challenges can influence decisions about where and whether to build. FBA and Cartesian will also discuss the policy implications of the findings and how clearer, more predictable permitting practices can support fiber investment and deployment, as the FCC weighs new rules on wireline deployment barriers.
The MN Broadband Task Force met in Isanti heard from Midco about their business and their experience working with the Office of Broadband Development (OBD). OBD gave an update and the Task Force member met in small groups to discussion two aspects of the annual report: Affordability Economic Opportunity, and Workforce Development and Mapping, Policy, and Funding. Not enough people showed up for the mapping discussion (although folks may have shown up after the initial 5 minutes) so I attended the affordability discussion, which was pretty interesting, especially when talking about speed goals. There’s always a balance between was consumers need and what providers are offering, especially with the BEAD shift from fiber to satellite.
Meeting Agenda
10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Welcome from Teddy Bekele, Chair, Minnesota Governor’s Task Force on Broadband, roll call, approval of minutes from September Task Force meeting, and presentation and introduction from Melissa Wolf and Midco.
Questions:
Tell us about line extension.
It allows us to reach individuals who are farther away from our network. They are longer drops, more rural properties. We stay in contact with folks who may apply and we evaluate where the houses in need are. They are shorter contracts – usually within 6-12 months we start to build.
Do you see things in other states that are working better?
OBD is the gold standard. We talk more about what MN is doing well.
10:45 a.m. – 11 a.m. Continue Task Force discussion on E-Rate and update from Task Force member work since September meeting.
Where does the TF stand with E-rate?
Erate goes to schools and libraries. USF goes to other places too, such as hospitals and low-income households.
Erate is under review and is open for comments. Does the TF want to comment? Two letters have been written in support of Erate. One is a direct FCC comment. The other is a letter to the Congressional delegation. Deadline is Oct 13.
Does everybody support the effort? No dissenters.
Folks can read the letters after the meeting and chime in.
11 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Office of Broadband Development (OBD) overview and updates from Bree Maki (Executive Director, OBD).
Bree is in DC and they are talking about USF at the conference.
Big thanks for Midco for hosting and sharing.
Border to Border – team has been closing 10 more projects (round 9 and 10).
89 active projects still in the field; 24 are near closing.
Line Extension 4 & 5 need to be built by the end of the year.
Plan to do another line extension round – but not until next year
Trying to navigate BEAD
Digital Equity Act – lots of unknowns. Competitive grant is in the courts, looking for guidance by the end of the year. Hoping the state grants will also get a review.
BEAD – asking grantees to do what they can.
Benefit of the Bargain 2 – we were aggressive in trying to add 21000 locations to the BEAD eligible map
Supposed to be done with contracting by October but we weren’t able to get the info we needed – our new date is Nov 7.
Also looking for tribal consent, especially as some providers have left the program.
Questions
Are there any projects with only minimal scope changes?
Most have something but there are a few. We are losing providers, especially fiber providers due to rising costs. This is turning into an anti-fiber project due to costs.
We have gone from 160,000 unserved locations to 60,000 – due to private investment.
BEAD does not work well in a state that state broadband speed goals that surpass federal definitions.
Some projects are getting close to starting. Some folks are waiting on signing contracts until they know what’s happening on a layer higher than one project alone.
11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Subgroup work time, have leads share out (1—2 minutes) on work at and since September meeting, breakout into subgroups for work time. Subgroups will aim to identify and finalize information needed for the background section to support eventual recommendations.
The video gets wonky at this point. My plan was to record one group and take notes for the other, but only one person showed up for the Affordability Economic Opportunity, and Workforce Development group. So I shifted to recording Affordability Economic Opportunity, and Workforce Development. Also I took screenshots of the document as changes were being made, which may be moderately helpful.
Do we need to prepare MN Government that we need to return to Border to Border in light of BEAD not really coming to fruition? YES
Do we need to discuss speed goals? Is it still 100/20 – then yes.
What are industry standards? NO one has really addressed it. With wireless and satellite becoming the de facto BEAD answer, conversations have shifted.
We should focus on symmetrical, that would push fiber. Government funds should not go to inadequate speeds with limited growth.
If BEAD stayed at gig access, this would be an easier discussion but since the feds are no longer there, we won’t likely get traction for the federal discussion.
Open the floor to other business, November’s meeting plans, and meeting wrap-up. Meeting adjourned for online attendees.
10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Welcome from Teddy Bekele, Chair, Minnesota Governor’s Task Force on Broadband, roll call, approval of minutes from September Task Force meeting, and presentation and introduction from Melissa Wolf and Midco.
10:45 a.m. – 11 a.m. Continue Task Force discussion on E-Rate and update from Task Force member work since September meeting.
11 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Office of Broadband Development (OBD) overview and updates from Bree Maki (Executive Director, OBD).
11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Subgroup work time, have leads share out (1—2 minutes) on work at and since September meeting, breakout into subgroups for work time. Subgroups will aim to identify and finalize information needed for the background section to support eventual recommendations.
Open the floor to other business, November’s meeting plans, and meeting wrap-up. Meeting adjourned for online attendees.
12:10 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.
In-person lunch provided by Midco.
1:00 p.m., Optional tour for in-person attendees
After lunch, in-person option to tour Wyoming Headend at Wyoming Headend at 26785 Fallbrook Ave, Wyoming, MN 55092 (10—15 minute drive from meeting area).
Candidates seeking two open seats on the North Mankato City Council gathered for a candidate forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of the St. Peter area ahead of the general election.
Seven of the eight candidates running for the two council seats attended the forum to address city issues including a recent data center moratorium, budget priorities, housing and immigration.
Candidates were first asked about the city’s recent 12 month data center moratorium, with all in attendance indicating support for the current council’s decision while agreeing that further study is necessary.
“I’m not terribly concerned about small data centers, because even if there are small data centers coming into our community, likely they will actually serve residents of our community,” said North Mankato City Council candidate Benton Bakke.
Candidates agreed that additional time is required before moving forward.
North Mankato City Council candidate Bridget Quinton said, “So there is a lot of things that still need to be reviewed, discussed, found out, so I think that the year is the minimum amount of time that we’re going to need to look into this,”
Center for Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy
October 26, 2026 – 12:00 am CDT
McNamara Alumni Center
Join the University of Minnesota AI Hub for the 2026 Women in AI & Data Science (WiADS) Conference on October 26 in Minneapolis. WiADS brings together researchers, students, educators, industry professionals, and community members to explore the future of artificial intelligence and data science through collaboration, innovation, and inclusion.
Candidates in a rematch of one of Minnesota’s most hotly contested State Senate races sparred over fraud, data centers and tariffs at a forum Monday night.
Incumbent District 3 Sen. Grant Hauschild, DFL-Hermantown, repeatedly described himself as an independent-minded legislator unafraid to buck his party. …
But his Republican challenger, Babbitt Mayor Andrea Zupancich, said Hauschild has voted with the DFL about 95% of the time. She contended the state needs a change in direction.
Here’s what was said about data centers…
Zupancich admitted she’s “still learning about data centers,” as that hasn’t been an issue to date in her rural area. But she stressed that it’s important that the community be “fully informed” and for “everyone to have a seat at the table.”
Hauschild, likewise, said it is important that “local communities have a say,” while noting Minnesota has already passed some of the strongest regulations in the country. That includes monitoring of water usage and ensuring the companies pay for their energy, he said.
But Zupancich criticized her opponent for co-authoring a bill to give data centers what she described as a “free-ride” tax break for 35 years.
Hauschild responded by saying that was an initial proposal, but the final legislation actually raised taxes for the companies “by tens of millions of dollars.” He also noted his efforts to ban elected officials from signing non-disclosure agreements.
In a forum hosted Monday night, incumbent Sen. Jen McEwen and Republican candidate Darrick Law answered some of the biggest questions facing constituents, from data centers and copper-nickel mining to protecting taxpayers from fraud.
Data centers were part of the discussion…
On data centers, Law agreed with McEwen on removing NDAs that bar communication between local government and the community.
“Data centers are a pretty functional part of our society right now,” Law said. “However, communities should have a voice on data centers being put in their neighborhoods.”
AI is moving from a future consideration for rural broadband to a critical tool for operators in record time. This webinar unpacks the 2026 Rural Broadband State of AI study, a first-of-its-kind report drawn directly from 132 rural broadband providers on where they stand with AI adoption, what’s holding them back, and where they expect the most value. The findings paint a picture very different from the “move fast or fall behind” narrative dominating industry headlines: 91% of providers expect AI to have a significant impact on their business, yet 56% feel they’re behind — even though only 1% of the industry has actually integrated AI into core systems.
We’ll walk through the report’s maturity framework (Dabblers, Explorers, and AI Operators), the real barriers to progress, and the practical, peer-sourced recommendations for building momentum. Highlights include:
82% of providers have no defined AI strategy, but the gap between “Dabblers” and “AI Operators” is structural, not just behavioral.
The top blocker to AI adoption is skills and confidence (68%) — not cost or data quality
73% of providers expect vendors to play a meaningful role in their AI future
Four practical steps any provider can take to move from Dabbler toward Operator, plus seven key takeaways for the next 12 months
Attendees will leave with a realistic benchmark for where their organization stands against true industry peers, and a concrete starting point for their next AI initiative.
County Commission District 2 incumbent Wayne Johnson and challenger Jeff Gontarek participated in a forum Saturday, Sept. 26, sponsored by the League of Women Voters of East Otter Tail County and the National Organization for Women Fergus Falls chapter at the Otter Room in Ottertail.
In the wide-ranging forum, Johnson and Gontarek addressed multiple topics including property taxes, emergency services, their top three priorities and their thoughts on data centers.
Here’s what they said about data centers…
Johnson said county-wide zoning faces resident push back over land rights and recommended that townships adopt their own zoning ordinances to prevent unregulated development outside city limits. He said data center construction would damage local roads through heavy truck traffic. He would require decommissioning plans and bonds for large developments, similar to proposals for solar and wind farms, so land can be restored and money is available if a company abandons a site. He said wind and solar farms are acceptable in the right locations, and that rural Minnesota may currently be less attractive to data center developers than North Dakota.
Gontarek said he opposes data centers in Otter Tail County at this time. He cited about 25 hours of research and said he found they do not create significant numbers of jobs. He also questioned the return on investment for the tax base and raised concerns about water use, noting that local river levels are low. He said existing problems such as roads and taxes should be addressed before new developments are considered.
digitalLIFT’s 4th annual Day of Equity is October 8, 2026. Don’t miss this amazing and empowering day! Six sector-specific sessions feature engaging presenters, industry leaders, and powerful content that will inform, educate, encourage, excite, and inspire you and everyone who attends. Register For the Day of Equity Sessions Today!
If you live or work in Eagan and you have thoughts on data centers, the city wants to hear from you.
The city of Eagan is hosting a community input session Wednesday where community members are invited to weigh in on data center development as the city considers future regulations.
The drop-in event, called the Data Center Ordinance Community Input Session, comes seven months into the city’s one-year moratorium on data center development.
The moratorium, enacted in February, halted development of any new data center that would use more than 20 megawatts of electricity, and upgrades to existing data centers above 9 megawatts, in addition to any proposed centers within 500 feet of residential homes.
More information…
Instead of a presentation, participants are invited on Wednesday to move through several stations and share their thoughts, questions and potential impacts that should be considered. City staff will be available to collect comments and capture questions and perspectives, according to the city.
For those unable to attend, or those who prefer to share their thoughts online, the city has launched a Data Center Community Survey.
The survey, which expires Nov. 1, asks a handful of questions including, “If the City adopts data center regulations, what do you think Eagan’s regulations should try to accomplish?” and “What questions do you think the City should answer before deciding what regulations are appropriate for data centers?”
The details:
Eagan Data Center Ordinance Community Input Session
When: 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30
Where: Eagan City Hall, 3830 Pilot Knob Road, Eagan
