Letter: Nobles County commissioners urged to oppose data center on ag land

Ronald A. Wood, PhD, a former Worthington City Council member, has written an open letter to the Nobles County Commissioners, urging them to oppose a proposed data center project in the county. The project, which requires a change to agricultural zoning requirements, has already been reviewed by the Nobles County Planning Commission, which denied the requested land use change and forwarded recommendations to the Commissioners. Wood supports the Planning Commission's denial, highlighting an often-overlooked concern: the "data center heat dome." Citing research, he explains that existing data centers can create a six-mile radius heat dome, increasing surface temperatures by 3 to 6 degrees. For the proposed Nobles County project, this could impact over 72,000 acres, representing more than 15% of the county's total acreage and over 20% of its cropland. He argues that this temperature increase would withdraw soil moisture, negatively impacting agricultural production, including hog barns, cattle grazing, and crop yields. Wood questions the economic viability of reducing up to 20% of Nobles County's agricultural output, foreseeing secondary negative effects on implement dealers, farm suppliers, retail stores, and potentially a reduction in the tax base due due to falling land values. The Nobles County Commissioners are set to consider the text amendment to the zoning ordinance at an upcoming meeting.