Northern News Now reports…

Community members on both sides of the Google data center debate spoke out at Tuesday’s Hermantown City Council meeting, with some voicing disappointment that the planned environmental review was not on the agenda.

No one spoke specifically on the consulting resolution during public comment. Community members on both sides of the data center debate used the time to address the broader project.

Some expressed disappointment that the Alternative Urban Areawide Review, or AUAR, the planned environmental review, was not part of Tuesday’s agenda.

The meeting was paused but in the end continued…

Public comment during the meeting became heated, and shouts from attendees prompted a brief recess. The meeting resumed afterward.

The Hermantown City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved funding of no more than $20,000 for a consulting service to help guide discussions with tribal governments as part of the Google data center proposal.

The consultant will act as a liaison between the city and tribal governments throughout the environmental research and permitting process.

Inforum reports…

A West Fargo nonprofit group will host a community discussion, “If a data center knocks: What should West Fargo do?” on Thursday, Sept. 17, as part of its Fire Hall Chat series.

Civic West is a nonprofit group created to share information and increase civic engagement among West Fargo residents.

At the September discussion, the organization hopes to give residents the chance to learn about data centers and provide their input to city officials before they make any decisions regarding data centers, according to a press release.

The discussion will begin at 7 p.m., and will take place at the West Fargo Fire Department headquarters, 1201 10th Ave. E. It is free and open to the public.

Northfield News reports…

On the topic of data centers, Northfield residents made clear Thursday that their voices would be heard — and, more specifically, their hands.

About two hours after Planning Commission Chair Bill Kuhlmann gave up trying to hold back applause from an audience that filled the council chamber and two overflow rooms, the Northfield Planning Commission moved toward banning hyperscale data centers, directing staff to formulate a model for the ban based on power consumption.

The second agenda item began as a request from staff to address what was described as a “typo” or “error” in the Land Development Code surrounding data processing facilities, or data centers. Specifically, a setback of 3,950 feet from planned parks, trails or other recreational features was recommended to be changed to a 200-foot setback. The 3,950-foot setback meant it was effectively impossible for any data center to be proposed.

The article highlights many of the public and elected officials speeches…

The decision comes as the city of Northfield has worked to attract industrial development to its Northwest Industrial Park, which it advertises on the city webpage as “a prime data center and industrial development opportunity.” One of the city’s main strategic priorities as of late has been to diversify its tax revenue, focusing largely on industrial development in the northwest park.

Mathias Hughey, the city planner, also noted the city’s strict environmental regulations that would still apply to any proposed development. Once Kuhlmann opened the floor to public comment on the topic, residents made it clear they weren’t budging on the matter.

In the end…

The motion, which would recommend to City Council that the city list data-processing facilities as a prohibited use in Northfield, passed unanimously.