Petition seeks to put a moratorium in place to stop Faribault data center project
A petition is seeking a moratorium on a data center project in Faribault, Minnesota, following a Minnesota Court of Appeals ruling that required the city to redo its environmental impact study. Residents and a political candidate express concerns about the project's impact on water and its massive electricity usage. The petition requires thousands of signatures to get on the ballot.
A proposed data center project in Faribault, Minnesota, has become a contentious issue, prompting a petition for a moratorium. This development follows a Minnesota Court of Appeals ruling that mandated the city to redo its environmental impact study for the project.
Evan Berg of KEYC News Now reported on local political candidate Reed, who is supporting the petition. Reed's primary concerns revolve around the data center's potential impact on local water resources and utilities. Steele Waseca Co-Operative Electric noted that the facility would have a capacity between 40 and 120 megawatts, with annual energy consumption ranging from 800 million to one billion kilowatt hours, an amount equivalent to 2 to 3 times the energy usage of its entire network. While the cooperative stated it sources power from Great River Energy and has sufficient capacity, Reed emphasized the need for safeguards and restrictions.
The petition aims to compel the city to reconsider its stance on the project and potentially implement new environmental regulations. To qualify for the ballot, the petition requires over 8,000 signatures from the community.
John Rowan, an incumbent opponent of Reed, stated that the city approved the project before his appointment in 2025. However, due to recent legal advice following the state appeals case, he is unable to comment on the ongoing situation.