Second lawsuit filed against Hermantown over data center environmental review
The Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy and Stop the Hermantown Data Center filed a second lawsuit against the City of Hermantown over its environmental review of a proposed Google data center. The groups argue that the city used an alternative urban area-wide review before enough was known about the project's specific impacts and are seeking a more comprehensive state-level review.
The Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy and Stop the Hermantown Data Center have filed a second lawsuit against the City of Hermantown concerning environmental review for a proposed Google data center. The groups are appealing the city’s use of an alternative urban area-wide review, which Hermantown adopted in October 2026.
The organizations contend that the review was conducted before the project’s scope and impacts were sufficiently defined and that a more comprehensive evaluation should be conducted, potentially by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. MCEA supervising attorney Jay Eidsness said the proposed facilities are unprecedented in Minnesota and require a review focused on data centers statewide. MCEA said it has filed six data-center-related lawsuits across Minnesota.