Environmental groups sue Hermantown, Google, over data center review – KAXE

HERMANTOWN — The Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy announced a new lawsuit challenging the environmental review for the proposed Hermantown data center.
In court documents filed in St. Louis County on Wednesday, the MCEA, along with the grassroots group “Stop the Hermantown Data Center,” appealed the company’s second alternative urban area review, or AUAR.
City officials conduct the environmental review and hold public hearings for an AUAR.
The action comes one week after a settlement with Google over its planned data center at Pine Island. As part of the settlement, Google will complete an environmental review with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, marking the first instance of state oversight for hyperscale data center proposals in Minnesota.
The AUAR process is less vigorous than an environmental assessment worksheet or the more intensive, state-conducted environmental impact statement.
In the suit, the groups argue that once again, the AUAR process violated state law.
“Our state laws are clear about the right way to do this, and yet the City and project proposer continue to prioritize speed over meaningful public process and adequate environmental review,” stated Abigail Hencheck, a staff attorney at MCEA, in a news release. “Hermantown residents deserve more and are legally entitled to better.”
This is the second lawsuit by the organization against Hermantown over the environmental review process. Hermantown officials approved an AUAR in 2025 before announcing the planned data center and approved a second one, prepared with the assistance of Google, in August.
“These are hugely complicated projects that have potentially staggering environmental impacts that extend far beyond any one city’s limits,” Hencheck said. “Google is pursuing a state-level environmental review in Pine Island. It should do the same in Hermantown.”
On Friday, Oct. 30, the Hermantown City Council approved several key permits and resolutions for the project to proceed after a week of pushback from residents. Two opponents of the data center were just elected to the Hermantown City Council Tuesday. Emma Richtman and Candi Mock will be seated in January.
Joe Wicklund, communications director for Hermantown, declined to comment Thursday, citing active litigation.

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