Lawmakers advance bills to lift secrecy surrounding data center projects

Minnesota lawmakers are pushing for new legislation to increase transparency in data center development across the state. The proposed bills aim to prevent local governments from entering into non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) with private companies and mandate at least two public hearings for data center projects. Sen. Erin Maye Quade, DFL-Apple Valley, author of the Senate bills, highlighted that many projects, such as "Project Bigfoot" in Rosemount (later revealed to be Meta Platforms), have been approved without public knowledge of the company involved or potential impacts. Similarly, Google's "Project Skyway" in Pine Island and projects in Hermantown and North Mankato have also progressed under NDAs and code names. Residents testifying at a Senate committee hearing on March 17 voiced concerns over noise, light pollution, rising electricity costs, declining property values, and heavy water use. Aubree Derkesen, a Pine Island resident, described how her community received only four months' notice for a large data center project planned for over two years under an NDA. Eleanor Dolan of Duluth informed nearly 400 neighbors about a proposed data center just 10 days before a rezoning vote, finding little community support. In Monticello, Jenna Van Den Boom reported that about 1,100 residents have mobilized in response to two proposed hyperscale data centers, with most unaware of the plans until late in the process. While lawmakers like Sen. Andrew Mathews, R-Princeton, and Sen. Mark Koran, R-North Branch, expressed reservations about legislative intervention, most supported increased transparency, emphasizing that Minnesotans have a right to know about developments impacting their communities.