Locals ask Google questions about Hermantown data center plans
Residents of Hermantown, Minnesota, expressed concerns about Google's proposed data center at a community open house, citing dissatisfaction with answers regarding local business support and project impacts. Google addressed some concerns about noise and water use, emphasizing that parts of the project still require Hermantown City Council approval, with an environmental review slated for the fall.
Residents of the greater Hermantown area engaged with Google representatives at a community open house to discuss the proposed data center, following months of city council meetings, protests, and environmental reviews. Many attendees, including Duluth resident Jim Klukkert, expressed frustration that the discussions did not adequately address their opposition, particularly regarding the city council's focus on supporting local businesses over large data center developments. Klukkert criticized Google for not providing sufficient answers to past concerns, highlighting a perceived power imbalance between the tech giant and the small rural district.
Tyler Huebner, from Google's energy market development team, acknowledged the concerns and detailed improvements made to address issues such as noise pollution and water consumption. He stated that the project would comply with Minnesota's sound guidelines and utilize air-cooled or closed-loop cooling technologies to significantly reduce water usage. Huebner also mentioned Google's commitment to paying 100% of energy costs and integrating new clean energy into Minnesota's power system.
Despite the open house, several key aspects of the data center project remain unfinished. Google still requires approval from the Hermantown City Council before construction can commence. A new environmental review has been filed, providing extensive information on construction impacts and minimal water use. The public comment period for this review closes on July 16, with the environmental review itself scheduled to go before the Hermantown City Council later in the fall. Google is also considering another open house meeting in August.