Advisory council agrees to fact-based review and forms interest in subgroup to evaluate proposed data‑center impacts

Advisory council members raised concerns about a proposed data-center project that has sparked public debate in one county and asked the council to consider a limited, fact-focused role.

Chair raised the item as an agenda suggestion for the next meeting and asked whether council members would be willing to convene a smaller "coalition of the willing" to gather facts, identify critical lake-related issues and draft guidance. Several council members — including Trevor and Warren Peterson — urged the council to avoid amplification of misinformation and to invite factual briefings from project proponents and relevant agencies before offering formal advice.

Council members asked that any review emphasize factual data (for example, clarifying whether numbers cited in public debate reflect acres or acre-feet of water) and asked the commissioner's office to coordinate briefings from relevant local, state and tribal authorities. Tribal representatives asked that media-driven assertions not be taken as authoritative until tribal leadership has had a chance to consult internally.

The chair, taking note of hands, said the council would convene interested liaisons and members to explore how to best meet its statutory advisory role—focusing on process, fact-gathering and a narrowly scoped deliverable to avoid making premature policy pronouncements.

The council scheduled a follow-up discussion for the next regular meeting and asked staff to coordinate fact-focused presenters.