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Water, wastewater and generator testing dominate opposition concerns at data‑center hearing
Summary
Opponents pressed the board on how the data center’s cooling and wastewater would affect the city system and on generator testing. Petitioner witnesses said closed‑loop cooling and MSD pretreatment standards mitigate risks; the board added conditions shifting costs for water improvements to the petitioner.
Opponents at the hearing focused heavily on water use and wastewater control, and on the environmental consequences of testing and operating backup generators.
Brynn Bonewell of the petitioner's team said the site will use closed‑loop cooling and air‑cooled chillers to limit consumption and will comply with MSD wastewater pretreatment standards; she told the board the water commissioner had said the project "will not be in the top 30 water users." Bonewell also said the permit requires applicants to report annually and to pay water‑system impact fees to address detrimental impacts.
Opponents asked more pointedly whether untreated discharge could reach the Mississippi River; petitioner witnesses said filtration and MSD standards make that unlikely. Board members adopted a new condition requiring the petitioner to pay for any major water‑system improvements discovered by hydraulic study, placing that cost responsibility on the developer rather than the city.
