Residents urge Hermantown City Council to study or halt proposed hyperscale data center

Dozens of residents pressed the Hermantown City Council on the proposed hyperscale data center during public comment, urging officials to halt or study the project and to demand more transparency from potential developers.

At the microphone, Sarah Lo (5502 Hermantown Road) asked the council to adopt an interim ordinance or moratorium so staff can study data-center impacts before any applications advance. "If the people directly impacted are saying no, why does that not carry weight?" Lo asked, saying Egan recently directed staff to study data centers and prepare a moratorium for up to 12 months.

Why it matters: speakers said the project could draw large amounts of water, strain local utilities and alter the rural character of Hermantown. Emma Rickman and others cited a lack of local information about ownership, energy demand and environmental protections and urged the council to prioritize resident input over rapid advancement of corporate plans.

Residents repeatedly called out specific concerns. Tom Bates warned of risks to Lake Superior and suggested alternative water supplies (a nearby paper mill) as an example. Karen Harmon asked why ownership details remain confidential and noted council members may have signed nondisclosure agreements that limit the public's access to developer identities. Joanne Bates and Clarissa A and others urged the city to "walk away" if protections cannot be guaranteed.

Technical unknowns were emphasized: speakers noted that hyperscale facilities nationally can range substantially in power draw — commenters cited published ranges from tens to several hundred megawatts — and said Hermantown has not publicly disclosed an expected energy or water profile for any proposed project. Sarah Lo also reminded the council that part of the northwest redevelopment site was previously addressed as a Superfund site and that EPA reviews continue on multi-year cycles.

City staff did not take immediate action on a moratorium during the meeting. Mr. Moulder (city staff) and other officials continued with the agenda and accepted routine items and capital purchases later in the session, including a resolution to reapply for a DEED infrastructure grant. Several speakers said that while litigation is pending, the city retains the option to stop negotiations with a developer and called on the council to do so.

What residents asked for: a public moratorium or interim ordinance to study impacts; explicit, written assurances from any developer about groundwater and soil monitoring; pre- and post-construction testing; oversight by an environmental authority; and fuller public disclosure of developer identity and agreements.

Council response and next steps: no formal moratorium or study measure was introduced or voted on at this meeting. The council moved forward with the consent agenda and a set of resolutions that included equipment purchases and a reapplication for a DEED grant. The record of public comment on the data center will remain part of the meeting minutes; those who addressed the council said they expect follow-up at future meetings and want the city to publicly disclose developer details before any land-use approvals move forward.

The meeting recessed after the council approved all listed resolutions and routine business.