Hermantown, Minnesota, residents file lawsuit against city over Google data center

Residents of Hermantown, Minnesota, and surrounding areas have initiated a lawsuit against the City of Hermantown concerning the planned construction of a data center by Google. The legal action alleges that local officials improperly modified zoning regulations in the Adolph neighborhood, violating "spot-zoning restrictions," and excluded residents from the planning process. The controversial project, identified in March as a Google development, is slated for a 200-acre parcel near Arrowhead Station. Beyond the recent lawsuit, the data center is also undergoing an environmental review, with another lawsuit previously filed regarding its potential environmental impact. Emma Richtman, a spokesperson for the "Stop the Hermantown Data Center" group, stated that the opposition is multifaceted, including concerns over tax abatements and development agreements, and vowed to continue speaking out. The Hermantown City Council unanimously voted 4-0 in October to rezone the land for the data center, a decision that has drawn criticism. Additionally, local leaders faced scrutiny for signing non-disclosure agreements related to the project. St. Louis County Commissioner Chair Annie Harala, who signed an NDA, expressed regret, calling it a "breach of trust" and advocating for a ban on such practices. City officials have reportedly declined to comment on pending litigation.