Google data center environmental review process sparks debate in Hermantown community

Opponents of a proposed Google data center in Hermantown are advocating for a new form of environmental review, specifically an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), during a public comment period at Hermantown City Hall. Northern News Now's Sophia Lauber reported on the two sides of the debate regarding the environmental review process.

The City of Hermantown has conducted an Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) and is currently updating it with additional details and analysis. However, opponents argue that the AUAR is insufficient and are calling for an EIS, which they consider more rigorous. The Minnesota Environmental Quality Board (EQB) indicates that both an AUAR and an EIS are required by state law to provide comparable levels of analysis, but they differ in their use cases; AUARs offer a holistic view of development scenarios within a geographic area, while EISs focus on specific proposed projects. Hermantown claims the AUAR is appropriate due to the data center's 8 to 10-year construction project and potential design changes.

Critics also contend that the initial AUAR for the data center proposal was inadequate as it didn't specifically mention the data center and didn't match the rigor of an EIS. The EQB emphasizes that neither review is a regulatory document and the final decision rests with Hermantown as the Responsible Governmental Unit. Hermantown anticipates the AUAR update process will take seven months, during which two more public comment periods will occur, and permitting cannot proceed until the environmental review is complete.

Dan Wolfe of Northern News Now introduced the segment, highlighting the central role of environmental review in the Google data center debate.