Hermantown Council Unanimously Approves Google Data Center Amidst Protests and Legal Challenges

Key points

• The Hermantown City Council voted unanimously to approve a development agreement, special use permit, and decommissioning plan for a Google data center.
• The project spans 1.7 million square feet on more than 200 acres and is expected to require 500 megawatts of electricity.
• The meeting was rescheduled twice after protests; the final session was limited to 85 attendees inside the building, with virtual options provided.
• Google agreed to drop a request for $80 million in property tax breaks, instead offering $3 million in annual revenue and a $210 million decommissioning fund.
• Three lawsuits challenge the project's environmental review, zoning changes, and land ownership status, though the city attorney stated these do not block the current approvals.
• The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission must still approve an electric service agreement between Google and Minnesota Power.

Background

This approval follows a national trend of community resistance to large-scale data centers, as seen in Van Buren Township, Michigan, where a similar Google project was approved despite protests in October 2026. In Minnesota, data centers have become a polarizing political issue, prompting new candidates to run for local office in Hermantown. The state has also seen increased scrutiny of environmental impacts, with a related project near Pine Island now undergoing a more robust review process following a lawsuit settlement.

How outlets are covering it

MPR News and WDIO.com highlight the unanimous council vote and the concessions Google made, such as reducing the project from four to three buildings and capping height at 33 feet. Supporters, including Jobs for Minnesotans, emphasized the long-term economic benefits and the $210 million decommissioning agreement. Conversely, the Duluth News Tribune and MPR News detailed the intense opposition, with protesters chanting outside and critics like Stop the Hermantown Data Center arguing that attendance limits and venue restrictions violated democratic principles. Opponents, including local legislators, characterized the changes as insufficient and accused the council of prioritizing corporate interests over residents. 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS provided broader context on Minnesota's data center landscape, noting that while many facilities exist, the proposed hyperscale facilities are significantly larger and often receive tax exemptions.

Why it matters

The approval marks a critical step for one of the largest proposed data centers in the region, with potential implications for local infrastructure, tax revenue, and environmental policy. The pending lawsuits and state utility approvals indicate that the project's future remains uncertain, but the local council's decision sets a precedent for how communities may handle similar large-scale technological developments. The controversy also underscores growing public concern over the environmental and social impacts of data centers, influencing local elections and policy debates across the country.

What to watch

The project must now await approval from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission for an electric service agreement. Additionally, three pending lawsuits challenging the environmental review, zoning changes, and land ownership status could delay or halt construction. The Hermantown City Council is scheduled to meet again on November 2, 2026, and two city council seats are up for election on November 3, 2026, with candidates likely to campaign on the data center issue.