The Fillmore County Journal reports...

At the October 26 regular meeting, the Caledonia City Council approved Ordinance 2026-02, establishing a moratorium on data centers within the city.

City Clerk/Administrator Jake Dickson noted that the 12-month moratorium could be lifted before the 12 months expires. However, he expects the planning commission will need the full 12 months to study data centers and develop a proposed zoning code. The moratorium allows Caledonia to take a proactive approach to manage development.

Under the moratorium, a data center is defined based on the facility and equipment’s principal use, distinguishing it from uses that are accessory or incidental to primary use.

Dickson noted that he believes the moratorium is the right thing to do.

Notes from the Oct 2026 meeting, the Todd County Board of Commissioners meeting…

Proposed Amendment to the Todd County Planning and Zoning Ordinance to create Section 9.24 –
Data Centers.
Staff Findings: Adam read through the staff report. This report is available for viewing upon request in the
Planning & Zoning Office.
Board discussion:
Adam, added the people from Great River Energy are a good resource to get them here, if they come together,
it would be the same night, with the intention to educate. They mentioned what the permitting process from
their perspective looks like, electrical rate impacts and infrastructure needs as topics.
Ken, what does Giant do?
Adam, it will be open to the public to come here. May be a special meeting. We would have to submit to Long
Prairie Leader by next week, then they distribute to Staples, Ind News Harold, Osakis, Long Prairie and Clarissa.
Tom says he has two guys (keep in mind supportive of DATA centers) Lucas, CEO of Giant. If we want to bring
him in and Chet Boden with Dept. of Employment and Economic Development for the State and he could reach
out to him too.
Adam, GiantVoices.com, out of Duluth, consultants, and continue to get in touch with Elise.
Adam, on U of M toolkit, there is a webinar on 6:00 PM October 14th, need to register. If want the link, you can
for one hour. Focused mostly on SE, MN.
Ken asked for the link.
Adam will send to everyone. Work with Jeff and Tom and reach out with Elise, send link for Webinar and reach
out to the other two gentlemen. Well-rounded knowledge base with all. Hope with AMC makes a model, but
for now we are starting from scratch.
Jim, anyone talk to any other counties?
Adam, yes, there are a couple ahead of us as the moratorium was ahead of us. Structure like solar ordinance,
set size, performance standards and the very large, we could not allow and define what that is, as an example.
Andy, not constrained quite as much.
Roger, heard any cannabis applications in the townships?
Adam, Bruce twp. has cannabis outdoor cultivation granted.
Roger, Steve Voss on the Kesslers? Should be grandfathered in.
Adam is communicating to the Kesslers the options offered.
Roger digging to the South taking out pine trees, off the right of way, last week he noticed.
Ken motioned to table the DATA Center ordinance, Roger seconded until November.
Roll call vote commenced as follows:
Ken Hovet
Board member
Vote (yes or no)
Roger Hendrickson
Yes
Yes
Lloyd Graves
Andy Watland
Yes
Yes
Jim Pratt
Motion carried.
Yes
Ken motioned to adjourn and Roger seconded. Voice vote to adjourn the October Planning Commission
Meeting, no dissention heard. Motion carried and meeting adjourn 7:25 PM.

As of May, 2026, the City of Elko New Market, Minnesota, currently has a temporary moratorium in place that blocks the establishment and operation of data centers…

SUMMARY ORDINANCE NO. 346
CITY OF ELKO NEW MARKET
SCOTT COUNTY, MINNESOTA
SUMMARY OF INTERIM ORDINANCE NO. 345
AN INTERIM ORDINANCE PROHIBITING THE LOCATION, ESTABLISHMENT, AND OPERATION
OF DATA CENTERS IN THE CITY OF ELKO NEW MARKET NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, on May 14, 2026, an Interim Ordinance was adopted by the City Council of the City of Elko New Market, Minnesota.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that, because of the lengthy nature of the Interim Ordinance, the following summary of the ordinance has been prepared for publication and approved by the City Council as authorized by state law.
This Interim Ordinance places a moratorium on the location, establishment, or operation of data centers in the City of Elko New Market until May 13, 2027. During the moratorium, the City will conduct a study to determine whether city must amend its zoning ordinance to
address the impacts upon public health, safety and welfare created by data centers.
A printed copy of the entire Interim Ordinance is available for inspection by any person during regular office hours at the office of the City Administrator at the Elko New Market City Hall, 601 Main Street, Elko New Market, Minnesota 55054.
APPROVED for publication on this 14th day of May 2026, by the City Council for the City of Elko New Market.

As a reminder, I am going back in time (a few months) to compile data center data by Minnesota counties. In July 2026, Shakopee posts FAQs on data centers at Dean’s Lake. They explain, “The Dean Lakes facility is an example of this smaller type of data center” and explain why the project cannot be stopped…

The property is zoned for industrial uses, and data centers are a permitted use under the City’s zoning ordinance. Under Minnesota law, when a project complies with applicable zoning and building requirements, it is reviewed through an administrative process rather than a discretionary approval by the City Council. Because this project meets the applicable requirements, the City does not have the authority to deny it based on its use.

In August, the South Metro Scoop explained why Shakopee might be interested in discussing data centers…

A data center is a giant building full of computers. It stores files, runs apps, and now feeds a lot of AI. They want cheap power, cool weather, and a lot of water for cooling. Minnesota has become a magnet. MPR News spent 2025 on that boom. Towns from the metro to the Iron Range are staring at proposals. The pitch is jobs and tax base. The fear is your electric bill, your well, and a low hum you can feel in the walls. South metro cities are already writing rulebooks. Eagan staff said the city legally can’t just ban them. So Eagan is racing to regulate noise, water, and power before a pause expires. Rosemount passed a one-year pause on new applications. Shakopee has not done either of those things. Tuesday was the first public “we need to talk about this” from the dais. There was no site named. No developer named. No map. Just: bring it back. That’s actually useful. It means residents can show up before a specific project lands. When it comes back, ask the boring questions. How much water? How much power? How close to homes? Who pays if the substation has to grow? Eagan’s already-running center uses about 7 million gallons a year. Staff there said that’s not even a top-10 city water user. The next wave of AI buildings may not be that polite.

Monticello Times reports…

With a contentious data center proposal looming over Tuesday’s local elections and a pivotal City Council hearing approaching Nov. 9, a new national poll suggests the debate unfolding in Monticello is part of a much broader wave of opposition.

Nearly three-quarters of American voters — 72% — oppose new artificial intelligence data centers in their communities, according to an Ipsos poll conducted for The Washington Post and ABC News released Oct. 20.

The findings come ahead of Monticello’s Nov. 3 mayoral and City Council elections, in which the proposed Monticello Tech data center has emerged as a significant issue.

Less than a week after the election, the City Council will hold a Nov. 9 public hearing on the proposed 3 million-square-foot data center campus on approximately 550 acres south of 85th Street NE and east of Highway 25.

The proposal has generated considerable public debate over electricity demand, water consumption, noise, land use and the potential effects on nearby property owners — concerns that mirror those being raised in communities across the country.

The national poll does not measure sentiment in Monticello, but its findings provide a broader perspective on an issue that has become increasingly contentious as technology companies pursue large-scale developments to support artificial intelligence.

The Monticello Planning Commission recommended approval of the project’s conditional use permit, rezoning and preliminary plat applications on a 4-1 vote Oct. 6, following a public hearing that drew approximately 150 people.

The City Council’s Nov. 9 hearing begins at 6 p.m. at the Monticello Community Center.

The article outlines major historical timeline and events related to data centers in Monitcello.

Hometown Source reports…

Elk River candidates discuss data centers, housing and city spending at forum

Westgaard outlines priorities as mayoral successor to Dietz; council candidates weigh growth, infrastructure and taxpayer costs

Elk River’s next mayor and City Council will face decisions about data center development, housing affordability, downtown construction and the cost of expanding city services, candidates said during a forum hosted by the Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce.

Discussion on data centers…

Data centers prompt calls for clearer rules

Data center development was among the forum’s most consequential topics, with candidates generally acknowledging the potential economic benefits while emphasizing the importance of location and planning.

Johnson, who said he has spent much of his career in the information technology industry and has worked in data centers across Minnesota, said the facilities are increasingly necessary to support businesses’ technology needs.

 

The Minnesota Star Tribune reports…

Despite fierce opposition, last-minute legal action and unsettled lawsuits, Google’s massive proposed data center in northeast Minnesota obtained critical approvals Friday night.

Friday’s meeting was the Hermantown City Council’s third attempt to approve a slate of Google-related measures this week. It followed a flurry of attempts to stop the vote, including a chaotic Monday night protest and the filing of an emergency motion in district court.

After four hours of comments from people largely opposed, the council asked several questions of project representatives before approving a revised development agreement. It also approved an agreement for Google to decommission its data center if it is no longer using it, and a special use permit for the site.

City Council member Brian LeBlanc said the No. 1 issue he’s heard in his four years on the council is bringing tax relief.

“I think this is the best opportunity that we’ve had before us to do that,” he said.

Google has other hurdles to clear before development can begin. Several lawsuits, a wetland permit and state approval of the tech giant’s electric service agreement are still undecided. One lawsuit involves ownership of 80 acres of land situated near the center of the proposed site.

As a reminder, I am going back in time (a few months) to compile data center data by Minnesota counties. Data Center Dynamics reports…

A $4 billion data center has been rejected by local officials in Nobles County, Minnesota.

Renewable energy developer Geronimo Power has been eyeing a 959-acre land parcel located between 200th Street and 190th Street for the construction of eight data center buildings totalling 2.5 million sq ft (232,257 sqm).

But the Nobles County Commissioners’ decision to vote against a text amendment to the county’s Planning and Zoning Ordinance that would include data centers as a conditional use under the agricultural preservation designation means that Geronimo will have to look elsewhere for its project.

As a reminder, I am going back in time (a few months) to compile data center data by Minnesota counties. The St Peter Herald reports…

The Nicollet County Board of Commissioners is pausing development of data centers as county staff look to study how their environmental impacts and energy consumption may affect local infrastructure and nearby residents.

The year-long moratorium, approved July 14, prohibits the construction of large-scale data centers and applications to build them while county staff draft study their impact and zoning regulations tailored to the facilities.

 

As a reminder, I am going back in time (a few months) to compile data center data by Minnesota counties. KEYC reported in June 2026…

Le Sueur County announced at the end of May it would be moving forward with a moratorium on new data center proposals in its townships and unincorporated communities.

According to Le Sueur County Administrator Joe Martin, the moratorium is set to last for 12 months, as the county figures out how it would like to regulate the growing industry going forward.

“There is no proposed data center in the county, and no one has approached the county about proposing a data center. Just knowing that there has been a lot of controversy across the country and in the state, the board recognized that they wanted to be proactive,” Martin said.

Martin stressed this isn’t a ban just a temporary pause.

The Caledonian Argus reports…

During a discussion about data centers and battery storage facilities, the Houston County commissioners decided to not implement a moratorium yet.

“We should not put a moratorium in because it is a timestamp,” Commissioner Kurt Zehnder said during the July 14 workgroup session. “If somebody proposes to put (a data center) in, then we put our moratorium down and start really putting the screws to this thing. I’m not in favor of it, but we should do it the right way.”

There are no data centers or battery storage facilities in Houston County. County Coordinator/HR Director Brent Parker said there are 15 operating data centers in Minnesota and 14 planned. The closest planned data center to Houston County is Project Skyway, near Pine Island in Goodhue County.

The commissioners have thoughts…

“We still need to do research into what a data center actually is,” Suzanne Bublitz, interim county attorney, said. “Be prepared for something to come up. Get prepared now. Then when someone makes requests, then we’re more prepared to respond, whether it’s a moratorium or something else.”

The board agreed data centers would not benefit the Houston County residents, which is part of why the members are against it.

KTTC reports…

The Harmony Planning and Zoning Commission approved a draft ordinance that would establish regulatory standards for potential data center development in the Fillmore County community.

The ordinance now goes to the city council for consideration. The next council meeting is Nov. 10.

More info on the ordinance…

The ordinance is in its sixth draft. According to its language, it establishes clear regulatory standards for the development and operation of data center facilities within the city by protecting public health and safety while preserving Harmony’s rural character and environmental resources.

Unlike the planned Google data center development in Pine Island, there has been no public announcement about a specific project in Harmony.

The Douglas County website reports…

The Board of Commissioners in and for the County of Douglas, State of Minnesota, met in Regular Session in a joint meeting with the Alexandria City Council this 28th day of September 2026. The meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. with the following Commissioners present: Tim Kalina, Charlie Meyer, Jerry Rapp, Shane Schmidt, and Jeff Way The following informational items were discussed, with no action taken: PrimeWest Health RCC/Douglas County Library Project, Flock Cameras, Data Centers, E-bikes/E-scooters, Partnership: Green Cities Task Force/Pope Douglas Environmental Center.

Not much, but at least we know it’s on the radar.