Tag Archives: Data Centers

Updates on data center issues in Pine Island: environmental review is scheduled for Nov 16 hearing (Goodhue and Olmsted Counties)

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KIMT3 reports…

The proposed Google data center in Pine Island continues to divide the community, with some residents pushing back against the project and saying their concerns have not been adequately heard by city leaders or the companies involved.

The project, known as Project Skyway, would be developed on roughly 482 acres in and around Pine Island. The City of Pine Island says the site is being developed by Ryan Companies and is intended for technology-related development, including a proposed data center.

The article provides a nice framing and history of the project leading up to where the city is now…

The Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy’s lawsuit challenging the project’s environmental review is scheduled for a November 16 hearing in Red Wing.

Google and the project’s development partners continue outreach in Pine Island as the project moves through the regulatory and development process.

Sartell opens the door for data center discussions if approached by developers (Benton and Stearns County)

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WJON reports…

Communities across the United States have addressed the issue of data centers coming to their communities.  Sartell Mayor Ryan Fitzthum says the city of Sartell doesn’t not have a moratorium on data centers in their community.  He explains the city has not received a proposal for one but he wouldn’t be surprised if that were to happen at some point considering the size and scale of the city of Sartell.

Fitzthum says the action that the Sartell City Council has taken is to require a conditional use permit for any data center.  He explains what that means is that a data center can’t just stop into city hall and get a permit and start building.  Fitzthum says this would require staff, city council and public engagement with a developer to make sure the product they are bringing meets the needs of the community.  He says if a developer brought a data center plan to the city, they would consider it.

 

DataBank acquires leased data center in Eagan from Mapletree Industrial Trust (Dakota County)

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Data Center Dynamics reports...

DataBank has acquired a data center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, it was leasing from Mapletree Industrial Trust (MIT).

Mapletree this week announced it has entered into an agreement of sale and purchase to sell 3255 Neil Armstrong Boulevard in Eagan to DataBank Properties, LLC.

The proposed sale price is $9.81 million, to be paid in cash. The deal is set to close in Q4 2026.

DataBank has occupied the site since 2014/2015, and gave MIT notice of its intention to exercise the option to purchase in accordance with the lease agreement. DataBank’s lease was set to expire in September 2029.

Built in 1998, the single-story facility totals 87,400 sq ft (8,120 sqm). DataBank launched the site as its MSP2 facility in 2015, offering 5MW of capacity. The site hosts 21 carriers. It is one of four data centers the company operates around Minneapolis.

Before it was converted into a data center, the site was previously occupied by Taystee Foods.

EVENT Oct 6: Northfield City Council to discuss data centers (Rice and Dakota Counties)

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So many communities looking at data centers, I feel like I need a scorecard – but I also feel like every community can learn from their neighbors, even if assets and needs are different. I had to remind myself of the situation is Northfield.

In August, the Northfield Planning Commission held a public meeting and decided to recommend to City Council that the city list data-processing facilities as a prohibited use. They also discussed ““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.”

That’s where this article from KYMN picks up…

Northfield’s proposed change to data center setback requirements would correct a conflict in existing zoning regulations, Community Development Director Scott Wopata said, rather than respond to a proposed development.

Wopata said the city has no data center application before it, and no developer has approached the city seeking to build one.

The proposal concerns the minimum distance between a data center and an existing or planned trail or greenway. Current regulations require a 3,950-foot separation, roughly three-quarters of a mile. Wopata said mapping that requirement revealed it effectively prevents construction anywhere in Northfield, contradicting the city’s decision to allow regulated data centers in industrial areas.

City staff recommend reducing that distance to 200 feet. The City Council could choose a different distance when it considers the proposal Oct. 6.

The change would leave other performance standards in place, including requirements addressing noise, water consumption, electricity sourcing, vibrations and electromagnetic frequency. A separate 200-foot setback from homes would also remain.

This information should prepare us for the upcoming meeting…

The Oct. 6 council meeting begins at 6 p.m. and will include public comment, with council action likely. Wopata encouraged residents to participate, saying the discussion offers an opportunity to consider broader questions about responsible industrial development while the city still has time to shape its rules before a project arrives.

Data centers come up in another debate (District 3) between Hauschild and Zupancich

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Duluth News Tribune reports…

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.

Candidates running in District 8 debate, data center comes up

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Duluth News Tribune reports…

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.”

 

Inver Grove Heights approves data center site plan (Dakota County)

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KARE11 reports…

The Inver Grove Heights City Council approved the major site plan Monday for a 55,000-square-foot data center.

The plan includes a framework for construction, including the architecture, landscaping, light output, and parking.

The vote comes two weeks after the council let the project continue, despite a moratorium on data centers in the city. The developer sued, saying they started the process well before the moratorium took effect. That one-year moratorium is in effect for any other data center projects there.

County Commission candidates in Fergus Falls talk about data centers (Otter Tail County)

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The Fergus Falls Daily Journal reports…

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.

Data center supporters in Pine Island ask MCEA to drop its lawsuit (Rice County)

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Post Bulletin reports...

A letter to the environmental advocacy group states, “Your lawsuit is an unasked for disruption of our democratic process that threatens many amazing benefits for our city, school, county and state,”

A group of data center supporters is asking a Twin Cities environmental group to get out of Pine Island’s business.

A letter sent to the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy — the St. Paul-based group that is suing both the city of Pine Island and developer Ryan Companies, LLC, over the proposed data center in Pine Island — “respectfully request that you drop the lawsuit so that partnerships between Pine Island, Google and Ryan Companies can move forward.”
The letter, addressed to MCEA Executive Director Kathryn Hoffman, has been signed by 183 “residents, business leaders and educators” from Pine Island.

You can read more on the lawsuit in an earlier post.

EVENT Sep 30: Eagan community session and online survey on data centers (Dakota County)

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St Paul Pioneer Press reports…

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

Survey: https://shorturl.at/30GF9

Pine Island anti-data center group hosts info session (Goodhue County)

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KAAL TV reports…

Southern Minnesotans came together to learn more about health concerns and state law related to data centers in Goodhue this Saturday.

With a data center project in the works in Pine Island and other cities, attendees came with plenty of questions for the experts featured in this event.

There’s lots and lots of more information that the city council and the citizens need to be made aware of,” Randolph resident, Ann Bezdichak-Boselmeier said.

Ava Corey-Gruenes, an organizer and outreach coordinator with Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate, said that water pollution caused by data centers has been linked to cancer, miscarriages and kidney conditions.

She said the purpose of the event was to help the public make informed decisions about data centers.

The article proceeds to share various views from attendees and planners and give a quick update…

The data center in Pine Island is paused under a court order after the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy filed a legal challenge questioning the environmental impacts of the data center.

The next hearing is set for Nov. 16.

Faribault city council candidates talk data center (Rice County)

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Faribault Daily News reports on a candidate forum between City Council candidates Paul Wunderlich, John Rowan, and Katie Howard…

All three city council candidates present during Wednesday night’s candidate forum at Harvest Church said they did not support the Archer data center development, while two said they use artificial intelligence daily. Other topics of conversation included the difficulty in keeping tax levies low, and whether Faribault should loosen density regulations and embrace smaller homes.

A crowd of elected officials, candidates, and about 8 members of the public gathered to hear what candidates Paul Wunderlich, Councilor John Rowan, and Katie Howard had to say. Candidates Natalie Halverson, Lexi Temple and Kameron Gustafson had scheduling issues and could not attend, organizer Linda Cross said.

The article outlines their various views, including the following…

All three candidates said they opposed the Archer data center, but acknowledged it was too late to just say no to it. Howard said she, Wunderlich, and Jacob Reed, who did not advance past the primary election, worked to develop a plan of what regulations and limits they’d like to see for any data center development coming into Faribault. …

Rowan, the only incumbent in the race, said in his introduction that he was not on council when the data center was initially approved. Rowan called the developer a speculator, saying the ultimate goal was to flip the data center to a buyer to make an easy profit. That process is already in motion, he said. …

Wunderlich agreed with Rowan and said he believed the developer was treating Faribault as a commodity, not a town. He was also concerned with the current council’s plan to vote on datacenter standards in November. Wunderlich said he was concerned the standards would not go far enough.

Winona County Board considers temporary data center ban

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Winona Post reports…

As communities across the country debate how to address the rise of AI and the data centers that back the technology, the Winona County Board earlier this month took its first step toward analyzing whether to block or allow data centers in this area. The board voted unanimously for the Planning Commission to study the issue and consider a moratorium of up to one year.

Winona County Planning and Environmental Services Director Ross Dunsmoor highlighted at the County Board’s September 9 meeting some concerns that have come up nationwide about data centers, from their use of water, electricity, and land, to the noise they generate. On the other hand, he also said some municipalities have received investments in their infrastructure from data center developers.

Dunsmoor explained that locally, under current zoning regulations, the county would only allow data centers in general industry zones. However, he added that townships control the zoning regulations for a number of these areas, leaving just one zone subject to the county — New Hartford Township.

The article highlights diverse opinions from Commissioners. And mentioned plans…

The Planning Commission will next study a potential moratorium. Community members will then have a chance to provide input during a public hearing, Dunsmoor explained, and then the County Board will discuss the topic again.

Federal government steps in with potential data center legislation but Minnesota legislation already covers it

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Alexandria Echo Press reports…

 While national discourse swirls around rapidly evolving AI and hyperscale data centers, Minnesota’s elected officials have been working on safety and regulatory interventions at all levels of government.

Just before adjourning for break, the U.S. House overwhelmingly passed the “Ratepayer Protection Act,” which would require states to consider implementing a standard requiring certain “large-load” customers, such as data centers, to cover the electricity costs associated with their projects.

The federal legislation is not likely to make much of a difference for Minnesotans, as the state already passed a standalone data center bill in 2025 that requires the hyperscale facilities to cover new electricity costs.

That requirement applies to the state’s first hyperscale data center in Rosemount, owned by Meta, which has not provided an update on when the facility would be operational. The City of Rosemount had previously said it would be complete by the end of summer.

Follow up on Castle Rock data center lawsuit dismissal (Dakota County)

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Hometown Source reports…

Castle Rock Township’s lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice in Dakota County District Court, according to a stipulation order, on Sept. 15 against the city of Farmington, MNLCO Farmington LLC and Farmington School District 192.

The lawsuit filed in February 2025 claimed the city of Farmington violated the orderly annexation agreement when the Farmington City Council approved rezoning for a 2.5 million-square-foot data center concept.

The court said the township and the defendants each seek dismissal with prejudice, which means the case can’t be refiled in court.

The parties also agreed that the defendants will waive all costs, disbursements, and attorneys’ fees that the defendants would otherwise have sought to recover from the township.

It was reported last week that Castle Rock has been working on a settlement agreement with the defendants, but no further information has been released regarding terms from the township, the city or the Colorado-based data center concept developer Tract.

The article gives a nice history of activity related to the project.