Google’s proposed data center in Hermantown, Minnesota, has cleared a major local approval hurdle after the city council unanimously approved the project on October 30. The vote followed at least two postponed meetings and hours of opposition from residents.
The development agreement, special-use permit and decommissioning provisions cover a project planned for just over 200 acres in a rural residential area outside Duluth. Google intends to build three data center structures totaling approximately 1.66 million square feet.
The company originally proposed four buildings but reduced the plan to three and capped their height at 33 feet. It also agreed to monitor nearby private wells and withdrew a request for up to $80 million in property-tax breaks. Under the revised arrangement, the project is expected to generate about $3 million in annual property tax for the city. A separate decommissioning agreement is valued at $210 million.
The council meeting was limited to 85 attendees and was livestreamed, a restriction that drew criticism from some participants. Council member John Geisler said the decision concerned Hermantown’s land-use application and related agreements, rather than broader debates about artificial intelligence or large technology companies.
Opponents maintain that the changes do not resolve whether a development of this scale belongs in the area. Residents have raised concerns about noise, water consumption and potential effects on property values. The project would require approximately 500 megawatts of electricity, according to the Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota—roughly comparable to the combined demand of homes in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth and Rochester.
The approval does not authorize Google to begin construction immediately. Three lawsuits filed by the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy and Stop the Hermantown Data Center challenge the city’s zoning process and the ownership of the land, while also seeking an environmental review.
Google must additionally obtain approval from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission for its power consumption, despite an agreement with Minnesota Power. The company is also pursuing a separate data center near Pine Island, close to Rochester, where a legal settlement has led to a more extensive environmental review.
Sources: Tom's Hardware.