Hermantown grants Google data center its last major local approvals

Hermantown's City Council unanimously approved the last major local agreements needed for Google's proposed 1.7 million-square-foot data center late Friday, MPR News reported. The votes covered a development agreement, a special use permit and a decommissioning plan for the project outside Duluth. Google dropped a request for up to $80 million in property tax breaks and agreed to monitor nearby private wells. The project is expected to need 500 megawatts of electricity. Three lawsuits still challenge its environmental review, zoning process and land ownership. Minnesota's Public Utilities Commission must also approve an electric service agreement between Google and Minnesota Power.