Minnesota Must Compete for Future Digital Infrastructure, Commentary Says
This commentary argues that Minnesota must embrace data center development to secure its economic future, despite concerns about energy and water use. It highlights the state's recently enacted legislation from 2025, which established stringent standards for large-scale data centers, balancing growth with environmental and labor requirements. The article warns that delays and uncertainty could deter investments, pushing projects to other states.
In a recent commentary, Doug Loon, president and CEO of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, and Tom Dicklich, executive director of the Minnesota Building & Construction Trades Council, assert that Minnesota must actively compete for data center investments to secure its economic future. The authors argue that these facilities are essential modern infrastructure, similar to past investments in railroads and highways, and are critical for powering sectors like AI, cloud computing, and advanced manufacturing.
The piece emphasizes the significant economic benefits, including job creation and local tax base growth, noting that many data center projects now incorporate renewable energy, battery storage, and grid improvements. While acknowledging legitimate community concerns regarding energy and water use, the authors point to Minnesota's 2025 legislation as setting strong standards for sustainable design, energy accountability, water resource protection, and prevailing wage requirements for large-scale data centers.
Despite the robust regulatory framework, the authors express concern that ongoing lawsuits and potential delays could cause state-of-the-art data center projects to choose competing states with faster approval timelines. They conclude that Minnesota possesses the talent, energy resources, and regulatory structure to lead in the digital economy, urging the state not to let uncertainty push these vital investments elsewhere.