‘Stop the Hermantown data center’ meets for first time since Google announcement
Following the announcement that Google is behind a proposed data center in Hermantown, the grassroots group "Stop the Hermantown Data Center" held its first meeting. Residents expressed frustration with local politicians and concerns about the project's impact on their rural area, suggesting the data center be moved to an industrial zone. The City of Hermantown has highlighted potential benefits like tax revenue and jobs.
The grassroots group "Stop the Hermantown Data Center" convened its first meeting in Solway Township following the announcement that Google is the company behind a proposed data center in Hermantown. Attendees expressed clear frustration with local politicians and their perceived lack of action regarding the project, with some suggesting taking their concerns directly to the state capital.
One local resident commented on the irony of Hermantown previously promoting itself as a nice rural area, arguing that the proposed data center contradicts this image and urging for its relocation to a more industrial part of the state. The City of Hermantown had previously announced that the partnership with Google could bring significant benefits to the community, including tax revenue for taxpayers and schools, and hundreds of jobs.
Northern News Now, the reporting outlet, was permitted to stay for almost an hour of the meeting before their reporter was asked to leave. The news organization attempted to get an updated comment from the City of Hermantown regarding the concerns raised at the "Stop the Hermantown Data Center" meeting but had not yet received a response.