Mixed reactions as Google plans Hermantown Data Center

HERMANTOWN, Minn.– Minnesota Power, and the City of Hermantown both said, it’s an exciting day for the northeast Minnesotan region.

“This is a very exciting day for us, as we have been chosen by Google to provide the electric service and power to serve the new facility in Hermantown,” said Julie Pierce, Vice President of Strategy and Planning for MN Power.

The site sits between Midway Road, Morris Thomas Road, and St Louis River Road.

It could potentially include up to four buildings, each roughly 300,000 square feet.

“This will bring a tremendous amount of benefits to our existing customers,” said Pierce.

That being said, not everyone is on board with the proposed project.

“Google has stated in their press release this morning that they have been a good neighbor to previous properties, previous data centers. And I personally feel, speaking on behalf of myself, that that is complete and totally inaccurate,” said Emma Richtman, a Hermantown resident, and a member of the “Stop the Data Center” group.

“Google has not been a good neighbor. Where are they? Where are you? Google? You have not come to city council meetings,” said Richtman. “The reality is, there are no permits for this, for this data center yet. So, I am frustrated that they’re talking about moving forward when it feels like a foregone conclusion.”

However, Joe Wicklund, the Assistant City Administrator for Hermantown said, the area would be in good hands.

“I think it is really important to note that realistically, those protections really take care of our cherished resources, but it’s also realistic to say those protections occasionally deter businesses from investing here. Google sees it differently,” said Wicklund.

Minnesota Power will be providing energy to eventually power the data center.

“We’re going to be adding to our already very renewable portfolio. We are a leader in clean energy,” said Pierce.

They are in close proximity and have easy access with their power grid.

“We’re going to be adding to that portfolio 700 megawatts of new clean energy, including wind energy and storage,” added Pierce.

And prioritizing that clean energy, Wicklund said, is a win for everyone involved

“We stand to gain a well-respected, community focused partner that’s working alongside Minnesota Power to provide investment in our local energy infrastructure in ways that do not raise rates for local residents and businesses, and they also get us closer to Minnesota’s carbon free goals,” said Wicklund.

Meanwhile, residents against the data center like Richtman, are still making their voices heard.

“If you have feelings, join our group. Email your local representatives. This is a bipartisan issue. This isn’t just subject to Hermantown, Minnesota is being predated upon, and there are many communities struggling with it,” said Richtman.

Following this, FOX 21 reached out to Joe Wicklund about the process of potentially denying or approving the data center.

Wicklund said, “Because of the pending lawsuit, there isn’t a next step scheduled at this moment. Certainly, more to come eventually, but nothing today.”

The lawsuit he’s referring to was filed by two groups challenging the environmental review of the data center.