Data Centers Atlas: Minnesota

News report: Google Hermantown Data Center

MPR News reported continuing questions about Google's Hermantown proposal, including noise, water and electricity use, a nearby trout stream and stormwater. It described company presentations and residents' differing reactions. These are reported concerns and plans, not an independently inspected complaint case, measured effects, completed mitigation or final agency approval.

Record status: unknown. The later disposition of these documented concerns is unknown in this bounded original-report review. Presented design or cooling options and company mitigation plans do not establish completed work, measured noise or water outcomes, a final permit or resolution of every concern.

Event date: Not established

Source publication date: August 20, 2026

Disposition date: Not established

Concern sources checked: October 18, 2026

The reports describe several open houses and relative weekday meetings without one independently verified exact concern-event day for this item. Event date remains unknown; report publication and scheduled later reviews are separate. The current original report displays August 20, 2026 publication,with separate June 25 background reporting. Those days are outlet publication dates,not independently verified company-original,permit or court-event dates.

Raised or recorded by MPR News.

Company statement reported by an outlet

Google stated, according to MPR News, that it was addressing noise, stream and runoff questions in its Hermantown design. The outlet also reported the company considering air cooling or recirculated-water cooling. These are reported company plans, not independently inspected final designs, completed mitigation or measured resource use.

The August 20 report attributes these presentations to Google officials discussing Hermantown. The separate June 25 report supplies the cooling options; neither is a company-original publication or proof of implementation. Pine Island commitments, utility arrangements and events are not transferred to this proposal. August 20 is the later outlet publication day.

Response publication date: August 20, 2026

Response sources checked: October 18, 2026

Counts describe attributed documentation, not harm or severity. Allegations, procedural outcomes and published replies retain their separate scope.

News report: Google Project Skyway (Pine Island)

MPR News reported continued environmental concerns about Google's Pine Island proposal, following earlier questions about noise, light, health, water and electricity. Its later report described opposition at a company event and a court-review-related pause. These are outlet accounts; the original court order, present project outcome and actual environmental conditions were not independently verified.

Record status: unknown. The current formal court and project disposition and the outcome of these documented concerns are unknown in this bounded review. MPR News reported a pause during judicial review in August; that is not an independently inspected current order, final project withdrawal, issued environmental approval or measured resource outcome.

Event date: Not established

Source publication date: August 20, 2026

Disposition date: Not established

Concern sources checked: October 18, 2026

The newer report describes a Wednesday event but an independently checked exact event day was not established. Event date stays unknown; the earlier scheduled injunction hearing and later reported pause are not original verified court-event dates. The current original two-project report displays August 20, 2026 publication. The separate Pine Island background report is dated February 24. Publication, company-event timing and a court ruling are distinct.

Raised or recorded by MPR News.

Counts describe attributed documentation, not harm or severity. Allegations, procedural outcomes and published replies retain their separate scope.

Legal action: Archer Datacenter Faribault

Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy reported its challenge to Faribault's environmental review of the Archer proposal, raising questions about noise, generator emissions, electricity and water. The city records a June 8, 2026 appellate return for more information or an environmental impact statement and a later supplemental-review extension. These source accounts do not establish measured impacts or a final project approval.

Record status: unknown. The present disposition of the full challenge and underlying concerns is unknown in this bounded review. The city records the June 8 procedural return and a July 14 extension through March 31, 2027 for supplemental review. That account does not establish a final supplemental determination, an ordered full impact statement, current project approval or resolution of every concern.

Event date: June 8, 2026

Source publication date: June 29, 2026

Disposition date: Not established

Concern sources checked: October 18, 2026

The original city chronology and litigant update both identify June 8, 2026 as the appellate ruling date. The exact earlier appeal-filing day was not independently established; the outcome event is separate from the later update publication. The original litigant case update displays June 29, 2026 publication. The changing city project page has no independently established first publication day; its dated actions are not page-publication dates.

Raised or recorded by Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy.

Counts describe attributed documentation, not harm or severity. Allegations, procedural outcomes and published replies retain their separate scope.

Dated record: Google Project Skyway (Pine Island)

Recorded event date: February 24, 2026

Google announced Pine Island as a future data center location and an Xcel Energy partnership. Publication date; not an opening or construction-start milestone.

A recorded date retains its original source and phase scope. A scheduled date does not confirm that the event happened or permission was granted. Source-check dates are separate.

blog.google

Dated record: Google Project Skyway (Pine Island)

Recorded event date: January 20, 2026

Pine Island reports initial Project Skyway land-use approvals: rezoning, annexation, final plat/development plan and conditional use permit. Initial phase only; separate electric-service approval, construction and operation are not established.

A recorded date retains its original source and phase scope. A scheduled date does not confirm that the event happened or permission was granted. Source-check dates are separate.

pineislandmn.gov