Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

Eagan City Council members voted unanimously on Tuesday to pause the development of new data center projects for one year. The city already has two data centers, but the moratorium focuses on development projects that would use more than 20 megawatts of electricity within 500 feet of homes.

City residents shared concerns regarding energy usage and water demands at Tuesday's council meeting.  

“I've seen the city go through many, many changes, and one of them is this establishment of many data centers around city. Not only this city, but all the way around the Great Lakes area,” said Susan Johnson, a longtime Eagan resident. “I actually applaud you for becoming what I believe is the first city in Minnesota to pull back on the reins on these large data centers.”  

Resident Leo Caravello stood in front of city council members and shared, “Water is a reason many data centers here today have been coming to Minnesota, and while we have an abundant supply of water, we do not have an infinite amount.”  

Eagan may be the first city to vote for such a moratorium. During the year-long pause, the city plans to conduct a study and research on the impacts of data centers and cryptocurrency operations.   

“We need to sort out, from my perspective, what the reality is of a larger data center in Minnesota versus the same reality of a larger data center in some place like Virginia or Georgia,” said Mayor Mike Maguire.  

The year-long pause will end Feb. 17, 2027.  

Chandra Colvin covers Native American communities in Minnesota for MPR News via 

, a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues and communities.

Minnesota News

Business and Economic News

Environmental News

Water

NewsPartners

Homepage

Chandra Colvin

Author

The Eagan City Council voted on Tuesday to pause new data center developments for one year to study the impacts of data centers. The moratorium may be the first-of-its-kind in Minnesota. 

Eagan places 1-year pause on new data center developments

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox