Google just bought your Minnesota vacationland for a data center

Residents of Hermantown, Minnesota, are vocalizing strong opposition to a proposed hyperscale data center, identified as 'Project Loon,' planned by Harmony Group LLC, a subsidiary of Google. The 178-acre, 1.8 million-square-foot facility is slated for agricultural lands, old-growth oak trees, wetlands, and designated trout streams, which opponents argue will irrevocably alter the local way of life and environment. The project's planning process has been criticized for its secrecy. Local resident Rebecca Gilbertson and others claim decision-making was clandestine, with a Data Practices Act request revealing 1,600 pages of planning over an 18-month period prior to public announcement. This secrecy involved 22 non-disclosure agreements, including with the city of Hermantown and elected St. Louis County commissioners. Google reportedly committed to paying legal fees for any lawsuits against the city regarding this secrecy. Concerns also extend to the financial structure of the project, which involves a partnership with Minnesota Power. Minnesota Power and its parent company ALLETE were recently acquired by Global Infrastructure Partners, a subsidiary of BlackRock. Residents, noting BlackRock's 5-7% share in Google, have raised alarm about a potential 'monopoly' over power generation, transmission, and consumption for the data center, especially given Minnesota Power's recent land purchases in the Adolph corridor for 'urgently needed grid stability upgrades.' Public health and environmental impacts are central to the opposition. Reports on data center impacts project a $20 billion annual public health burden nationwide by 2028 due to air pollution from diesel generators, potentially causing premature deaths and asthma. Opponents are advocating for comprehensive data center reform in Minnesota, including the repeal of tax breaks for developers and the enactment of a two-year moratorium to study the effects of unregulated development on water, utilities, and public health.