Erin Brockovich Spotlights Farmington Data Center Opposition
Environmental activist Erin Brockovich is spotlighting Farmington, Minnesota residents who are fighting a proposed hyperscale data center development. The local Coalition for Responsible Data Center Development (CRDCD) has filed a lawsuit against the city's approval of the data center park and is advocating for a statewide moratorium on new data centers due to concerns about environmental impacts, water, and electricity usage.
The Coalition for Responsible Data Center Development (CRDCD) in Farmington, Minnesota, a grassroots organization, is garnering national attention from renowned environmental activist Erin Brockovich. Brockovich, known for her advocacy against corporate pollution, is highlighting the coalition's efforts to fight a proposed hyperscale data center in Farmington, having included Farmington on her AI Data Center Reporting Map.
The CRDCD organized a rally at the Minnesota State Capitol in February 2026 to push for a statewide moratorium on data centers and has held public forums. Kris Akin, the CRDCD's outreach director, revealed that Brockovich has offered advice and is in weekly communication with the coalition, which views the national spotlight as crucial for their cause.
In November 2024, the Farmington City Council approved a 350-acre data center park. In response, the CRDCD filed a lawsuit in January 2025, challenging the process and location of the development and expressing concerns about water, air, and environmental safety. Coalition Chair Cathy Johnson stated that the lawsuit is a call for accountability, arguing that the democratic process failed and citizens were ignored by elected officials who often defer to developers.
The coalition continues to lobby state legislators for a one-year moratorium on new data centers and greater transparency regarding non-disclosure agreements, environmental impacts, and resource usage. They are raising funds to cover an estimated $250,000 in legal fees, stressing their goal is to protect their community, not to obtain money.