Protests force Hermantown meeting on proposed Google data center to adjourn
Protests over Google’s proposed Hermantown data center forced the city council to adjourn its meeting and reschedule it for Tuesday. Opponents cited concerns about secrecy and unresolved environmental issues, while the council was scheduled to vote on agreements and permits that could advance the project.
Protesters disrupted a Hermantown City Council meeting scheduled to consider agreements that could clear the way for Google to build a data center in the city. The meeting was immediately adjourned and rescheduled for Tuesday after the chambers became severely overcrowded; police declared the gathering an unlawful assembly and ordered demonstrators to leave.
Opponents have repeatedly protested the project, citing concerns about the city’s transparency and environmental impacts. The proposed approvals also face a legal challenge involving alleged notice violations, with a court hearing scheduled for the following day. The Duluth Building and Construction Trades Council and Hermantown Chamber of Commerce defended the permitting process, saying public input had been considered and conditions had been added to the agreements.