Advocacy groups appeal second environmental review of Hermantown data center

The Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy and Stop the Hermantown Data Center filed an appeal in St. Louis County Court challenging the second environmental review for Google’s proposed data center in Hermantown, Minnesota. The groups contend that the review violates state law and fails to assess the project’s broader impacts, including the energy-intensive facility’s effect on Minnesota’s climate goals.

The appeal came less than a week after the Hermantown City Council approved a key permit for the controversial project. MCEA staff attorney Abigail Hencheck said residents are entitled to a more meaningful public process and argued that Google should pursue a state-level environmental review, as it is doing for a similar project in Pine Island.