By Alliance President Terry Gips
There’s a dangerous race going on as Big Tech corporations seek to avoid regulation and build 23 problematic giant data centers in MN and lots more across the country. We need to stop this Wild West push with a moratorium and properly regulate them.
If we don’t, these data centers will likely cause massive energy shortages and electric bills, water shortages and pollution and violation of climate goals, along with noise and light pollution for neighbors. Meanwhile they’re already draining state budgets given subsidies and forcing cuts to services, as pointed out in a detailed statement from the Sierra Club Northstar Chapter.
It’s all worsened because the massive corporations pushing these hyperscale data centers are avoiding public scrutiny by negotiating sweetheart deals with elected officials in secret with non-disclosure agreements. They are intentionally keeping citizens in the dark, directly undermining our democracy. But we’re fighting back, and we can win.
Massive Rally Against Hyperscale Data Centers at the MN State Capitol
On February 18 the Alliance for Sustainability joined with groups from across MN in a packed protest at the Capitol. We heard deeply moving talks from leaders of groups organizing communities across the state who are seeking to slow down or stop the juggernaut.
They had a common refrain: Key information is being withheld from them about the data centers while local government pushes forward with its decisions. Sadly, the data centers are dividing communities and many of the concerned citizens are ostracized and discounted.
In some cases the centers are being built in rural areas very close to residences. Some of them are twice the size of the Vikings Stadium.
Fortunately, MN legislative leaders are speaking out and calling for a two-year moratorium this legislative session. They’re backed by diverse indigenous and grassroots groups who are working together to stop the scourge.
A Few Disturbing Facts about these Hyperscale Data Centers
- One large-scale data center uses 1-5 million gallons of water PER DAY, equivalent to 20,000-90,000 Minnesotans per day, according to Clean Water Action MN. They point out that these centers input clean, drinkable water and can output dirty, polluted water to taxpayer-funded municipal treatment facilities or evaporation ponds.
- The amount of energy from currently proposed data centers is projected to be as much energy as all 2.3 million homes in Minnesota. This will likely result in energy rate hikes for Minnesotans, according to Clean Water MN. Big Tech claims their hyperscalers will be powered by new clean electricity, but they lobby against requirements while often relying on diesel generators, further fueling climate change and air pollution.
- The hundreds, perhaps thousands, of promised construction and labor jobs are temporary and will likely be imported from surrounding states. Thus, the long-term job prospects are minimal and could be remote, as Clean Water Action MN points out.
Taking Action
Please take a minute to join the Alliance in sending this Sierra Club Northstar Chapter letter to Gov. Walz, your state representative and state senator, calling for a moratorium on these new large-scale data centers in Minnesota to protect us and our natural resources. It’s not fair for Minnesotans to subsidize Big Tech and threaten our environment.
Whether or not you live in MN, you can take action by sending this Food & Water Watch letter to your US Representative and Senators calling for a national data center moratorium.