Hermantown approves controversial Google Data Center during late night meeting

The Hermantown City Council unanimously approved a controversial Google data center project late Friday night after four hours of public comment and repeated protests, despite significant local opposition. The council authorized a development agreement, special use permit, and decommissioning plan for the 1.7 million-square-foot facility on over 200 acres in a rural residential area near Duluth, with Google agreeing to provide $3 million annually in property taxes and a $210 million decommissioning fund. The council restricted meeting attendance to 85 people and offered virtual options, which angered opponents who viewed it as limiting public participation in representative government.