Hermantown Council Hearing on Google Data Center Halted by Protesters

A scheduled Hermantown City Council hearing on a proposed Google data center was adjourned after protesters disrupted the meeting. Police ordered the crowd to leave after about two hours of delay, and the vote was pushed to a later date.

The 1.66 million square foot facility, described in the article as in Duluth, was widely expected to win approval. Opposition group Stop the Hermantown Data Center made up much of the crowd, while a pro-development group wearing green sat quietly in the chamber. Council member Andy Hjelle, who is seeking re-election in a four-candidate race for two seats, condemned the disruption and said data centers could lower property taxes through a proposed $3 million annual dividend.

Before the delayed vote, Google dropped a request for up to $80 million in tax subsidies, shrank the facility, added well monitoring, and agreed to a quieter campus. The council was also considering a decommissioning agreement, which the article calls a first for a hyperscaler. The project still needs a federal air permit and certain state permits, and it faces two lawsuits: one from residents who say they were misled about the land's use on 80 acres, and another alleging zoning violations.

For developers and financiers, the case shows how local hearings, litigation and permitting risk can delay large industrial projects even after incentives are cut back.