Hermantown approves controversial Google Data Center during late night meeting

The Hermantown City Council unanimously approved key agreements late Friday night for a controversial Google data center in northeast Minnesota, after two prior meetings were postponed amid protests. The council approved a development agreement for the 1.7 million-square-foot project on more than 200 acres in a rural residential area outside Duluth, along with a special use permit and a $210 million decommissioning agreement that protects the city if the project is abandoned. The votes followed four hours of public comment and roughly an hour of discussion, with the meeting concluding just before midnight. Opposition, led by the grassroots group Stop the Hermantown Data Center, has been vocal, with critics citing the city's decision to cap attendance at 85 people and eliminate an overflow room as unfair. Councilmember John Geissler framed the approvals as land-use decisions rather than an endorsement of big tech or AI. Watch for next steps, including whether opposition continues to escalate and how the decommissioning protections hold up as construction plans advance.