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Kasson EDA weighs data‑center interest, flags power and water constraints
Summary
EDA members discussed approaches to potential data‑center development, exploring small 10–20 MW facilities, concerns about peak electricity capacity (city peak ~13 MW), municipal water use, and site suitability (brownfield vs. fringe agricultural land). Staff promised more information and outreach.
Members of the Kasson City Economic Development Authority spent a large portion of the meeting discussing possible data‑center proposals and the infrastructure implications for the city.
Staff member said the EDA has been contacted by developers and is tracking proposals in nearby communities; the board discussed whether Kasson should proactively solicit such projects. "We have people reaching out to us and the EDA is a spot where you folks would hear about it sooner than later if we did have a proposal," the Staff member said.
Board members raised two core infrastructure questions: firm electric capacity and municipal water availability. Staff noted that, with the new service territory in place, the city’s maximum summer peak load would be about 13 megawatts and that data centers require firm, always‑available power. "It's the capacity — you have to be able to hit the peak time," the Staff member said, arguing that some communities co‑locate data centers where curtailment of wind generation is common.
Water use and cooling were also discussed. Staff recounted an example where a developer found a farm well rated at about 41,000,000 gallons per year that met most of a facility’s water needs, and suggested closed‑loop cooling as a preferred approach to limit municipal water consumption. "My biggest concern is always ... our first concern is always going to be for our residents," the Staff member said, noting that further wells or infrastructure might be required if a facility increased municipal demand.
The board considered possible sites: the former concrete plant (a brownfield with wetlands and remediation needs) and a fringe agricultural parcel near the highway. Members noted typical large data‑center buildings can have 60‑foot sidewalls and footprints of hundreds of thousands of square feet, which could require ordinance changes to permit that scale; staff suggested the EDA could initially pursue smaller projects in the 10–20 MW range.
Staff committed to further fact‑finding, including attendance at an industry session in Austin and sharing materials with the board for transparent public outreach. The group agreed to gather more information before making any formal commitments or code changes.
