Public hearing scheduled on Elk River data center plan
The Elk River City Council is holding a public hearing on a proposed 33-megawatt data center project. Residents are actively opposing the plan due to concerns about noise and property values. Some are calling for a moratorium on data center development, similar to other Minnesota cities.
The Elk River City Council is scheduled to hold the last of three public hearings today regarding a proposed 33-megawatt data center project in the city.
The proposal has sparked significant opposition from residents, who have filed 83 pages of comments urging the mayor and city council to reject the project. Concerns raised by residents include potential increases in noise, negative impacts on property values, and the fear that approving this project could lead to an influx of more data centers in Elk River. These sentiments echo those expressed during a heated public forum held in June.
While no letters were submitted in full support of the data center, some residents have suggested that Elk River consider implementing a moratorium on data center development. They point to cities like Eagan, Inver Grove Heights, and Minneapolis, which have enacted such moratoriums to allow time to gather more information on the potential impacts of data centers. The meeting, which is expected to be a contentious debate, begins at 6:30 PM tonight.