HERMANTOWN — The city of Hermantown opened the public comment period Tuesday, March 31, on the next step of the city’s review of the proposed Google data center campus.
According to a news release, the city and Google jointly agreed to an updated alternative urban areawide review study of the project. This update includes a smaller geographic footprint than last fall’s study, totaling 278 acres across 26 parcels.
The AUAR is a tool used to understand how different development scenarios might affect the environment before development occurs. The review also includes mitigation plans to mandate how a development will manage environmental impacts.
In the update, project proposer Harmony Group LLC developed more project design details, completed additional analyses and announced that the proposed "light industrial development" will include a master planned large-scale data center campus and related infrastructure within a reduced study area.
The initial AUAR on which the city collected public comment did not identify a data center. According to the city, updating the AUAR is voluntary and has been done to "provide the public an opportunity for comment on the specifics of the development scenario — including a chance for the public to propose alternatives and issues to be analyzed in environmental review."
Public comments are being accepted on an updated scoping document as part of that review now through April 30. They should be addressed to City of Hermantown, Eric Johnson, 5105 Maple Grove Road, Hermantown, MN 55811; or by email to AUARcomments@hermantownmn.com.
In early March, Google was revealed as the company behind the proposal that has sparked controversy for the city.
The project, according to Hermantown’s project webpage, will not use a water system to cool its servers — a matter of great contention as the proposed data center has been scrutinized by residents and environmental groups.
At the same time, Minnesota Power announced it reached an agreement with Google to power the project. The collaboration will reportedly enable the development of 700 megawatts of new, clean energy resources, from 300 MW of wind energy and 400 MW of battery storage.
The agreement also includes a $5 million contribution from Google in energy impact funding to help bolster Minnesota Power’s energy affordability and efficiency programs. The data center is also slated to contribute millions of dollars each year to the statewide energy efficiency and weatherization program, as specified in the 2025 Minnesota data center energy law.
The data center was put on hiatus in November 2025, when a developer associated with the project announced it would seek further public input before next steps. This came after the city of Hermantown received a petition demanding further environmental review. Harmony Group LLC, one of the associated developers, purchased several residential properties on Morris Thomas Road in January, paying between $1.5 million to $2.7 million for each, according to St. Louis County property records.
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Contributed/City of HermantownMinneapolis-based Mortenson Development wrote in a letter that it wishes to host a public open house before proceeding. -
Contributed/Corey Anderson via MinnPostPaul Bunyan Communications estimates that services will be available in all project areas by the end of January. -
Contributed/Stop the Hermantown Data Center via FacebookIn a lawsuit filed Nov. 5, 2025, the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy joined the grassroots Stop the Hermantown Data Center group to demand further environmental review on a proposed data center. -
Contributed/City of HermantownThe Environmental Quality Board reviewed the petition and designated the Hermantown City Council as the responsible entity. It must either reject the petition or conduct further environmental review for the proposed data center.
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