Public comments open on updated review of proposed Hermantown data center

The City of Hermantown, Minnesota, has initiated a public comment period for an updated alternative urban areawide review (AUAR) study concerning a proposed Google data center campus. The update, agreed upon jointly by the city and Google, details a reduced project footprint of 278 acres across 26 parcels, providing specific development scenarios and mitigation plans for environmental impacts. Previously, the project, initially not identified as a data center, sparked significant controversy. Google was revealed as the company behind the proposal in early March 2026, which has been scrutinized by residents and environmental groups, particularly regarding water usage, though the current proposal states it will not use a water system for cooling. In November 2025, the project was put on hiatus after a petition demanded further environmental review, and a lawsuit was filed by the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy and Stop the Hermantown Data Center group. In conjunction with the project, Minnesota Power has announced an agreement with Google to power the data center using 700 megawatts of new clean energy resources, comprising 300 MW of wind and 400 MW of battery storage. Google also committed a $5 million contribution to Minnesota Power's energy affordability and efficiency programs, with the data center projected to contribute millions annually to a statewide energy efficiency program as mandated by a 2025 Minnesota data center energy law. Public comments on the updated scoping document are being accepted through April 30.