Local View: Proposed location for Hermantown data center deeply problematic

Rebecca Gilbertson, a resident of Hermantown, Minnesota, has penned an opinion piece for the Duluth News Tribune expressing deep concern over Google's proposed data center project in Hermantown, St. Louis County. Despite Google's ownership, Gilbertson argues the chosen 403-acre site remains profoundly problematic due to its ecological sensitivity and rural residential character. The site, located next to the Canadian National main line, encompasses 55 acres of wetlands, 224 acres of old-growth wooded property, a watershed, trout stream, hills, and a 100-year flood plain. An Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) indicated that the proposed 2.3 million cubic yards of excavation would cause "massive disruption of topography and landscape," with potential runoff into West Rocky Run Creek and Midway River. Gilbertson contends the location violates four of six industry guidelines and raises alarms about unmitigable construction noise, traffic, fire risk, low-frequency noise effects, and air pollution. Gilbertson criticizes the city of Hermantown, St. Louis County, the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District, and state elected officials for allegedly "subverting public process" and not consulting experts and affected residents. She calls for government intervention, urging state representatives to help Google relocate to an alternative site within St. Louis County that minimizes environmental and human impact. Furthermore, Gilbertson advocates for a statewide pause in data center development to allow Minnesota to establish a suitable regulatory framework and reevaluate tax breaks for large corporations.