Will data center power demands affect residents?
Monticello City Council members questioned Xcel Energy about the proposed Edmonson Business Center data center’s potential effects on electricity rates, grid reliability and infrastructure needs. The project remains in the facility-study stage, with several questions unresolved, and local residents continue to oppose it.
Monticello City Council held a special meeting with Xcel Energy representatives to examine the proposed Edmonson Business Center data center south of 85th Street NE and east of Highway 25. Council members asked whether the facility could raise residential electric bills, strain the grid or receive priority during a major power emergency. Xcel said state rules and a Minnesota Public Utilities Commission-approved large-load tariff are designed to ensure large electricity users pay the costs of serving them.
Xcel representatives said projects of this size generally require new generation and transmission infrastructure, though the specific resources and delivery route for Monticello have not been determined. The project is currently undergoing a facility study expected to be completed by the end of 2026, followed by possible transmission permitting and a service agreement subject to regulatory review. Residents, including vocal opponent Jenna Van Dem Boom, raised continuing concerns, while city officials noted that state authorities control much of the electricity and transmission approval process.