Inver Grove Heights officials approve 1-year moratorium on data centers

News Clip0:55WCCO - CBS Minnesota·Inver Grove Heights, Dakota County, MN·5/12/2026

The Inver Grove Heights City Council approved a one-year moratorium on data center development following a 3-2 vote, halting a proposed project by Fortress Investment Group on Carmen Avenue. This decision, which did not include public comment despite resident frustration, was made to study the long-term impacts, including water use, and is part of a growing trend among Minnesota communities responding to the AI boom.

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Gov: Inver Grove Heights officials, Inver Grove Heights City Council
#wcco #news #localnews Inver Grove Heights hit pause on a proposed data center this week. The city joins Eagan and other communities in the state trying to get ahead of the artificial intelligence boom. In a split 3-2 vote, the City Council approved the one-year moratorium on data centers while officials study the potential long-term impacts. The concern stemmed from the proposed data center on the former Travel Tags site on Carmen Avenue. The developer behind the proposed project, the California-based investment firm Fortress Investment Group, insisted this isn't like the "mega data centers" popping up across the state and the water use is comparable to only a couple of homes. Even after the vote, residents were frustrated because council members said they received enough input and did not allow for public comment before the moratorium was approved. The fight over data centers is quickly becoming one of the most heated debates in the state. Official Site: http://wcco.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CBSMinnesota Twitter: https://twitter.com/wcco Instagram: https://instagram.com/wcco/