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Minnesota Data Center Intel
Latest data center news, projects, power and policy across Minnesota — updated daily.
Minnesota · Construction & power moves · 7
full tracker →Land, power, and interconnection moves across Minnesota — each traced to primary filings.
Top JUST IN — Minnesota
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Advisory Committee Minutes, Eagan, Minnesota
Source: MISO · Jun 26, 2024In MISO’s June 26, 2024 Advisory Committee minutes (Eagan, Minnesota), members discussed regulatory uncertainty and tariff work affecting large-load and interconnection issues: MISO said it was still evaluating a FERC Order to Show Cause in Docket EL24-80-000, and the Owners said MISO is “moving towards a FERC filing” on JTIQ rate recovery with SPP. The committee also asked MISO to provide updates on “Order 1920 timelines.”
Backed by 1 primary filing — sign in or book a call to see all sources.
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Advisory Committee Minutes — Graduate, Minneapolis, MN
Source: MISO · Jun 11, 2025MISO’s Advisory Committee minutes note that “The Owners are reviewing MISO’s June 6, 2025 FERC filing to establish a refined Expedited Resource Addition Study process for generation interconnections,” indicating a process change under review for interconnection studies (MISO Advisory Committee Minutes, June 11, 2025).
Backed by 1 primary filing — sign in or book a call to see all sources.
Recent Minnesota data center news
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Bill proposes more scrutiny for water usage at large data centers
The Minnesota House of Representatives proposed Bill HF3007 under the sponsorship of Rep. Peter Fischer. The bill aims to allow the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to impose extra scrutiny on proposed data centers expected to consume over 100 million gallons of water annually or 250,000 gallons daily. This legislation arises from concerns about the substantial water usage of large data centers, particularly those being sought by major tech companies including Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft. A budget of $300,000 has been allocated to develop a water availability atlas to assist in assessing water resource needs for these centers.
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Legislation proposes state policies on large data centers
The Minnesota House has introduced legislation to regulate large data centers, which are expected to demand significant resources, including electricity and water. The bill, HF2928, proposed by Rep. Patty Acomb, aims to ensure environmental reviews and establish energy efficiency measures while incorporating consumer protection provisions. It has provisions for water use caps and requires data centers to pay fees for energy conservation programs, reflecting a push for sustainable practices in the tech industry.
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DeepSeek AI will fuel more data center work
DeepSeek, a China-based company, has garnered attention for its low-cost AI model, suggesting data center power demand may not be as high as previously thought. However, industry experts like John Medina from Moody’s Ratings and Mitchell Osborne from Adolfson & Peterson Construction argue that advancements in AI will lead to increased energy usage as more companies emerge. The demand for power infrastructure is surging, with tech giants such as Amazon and Microsoft rapidly expanding their data center projects. A joint venture involving OpenAI, Softbank, and Oracle is set to invest up to $500 billion in AI infrastructure, further fueling the need for power construction. The U.S. power grid struggles to keep pace with this demand, as projections indicate data center energy use could reach nearly 580 terawatt-hours by 2028.
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How utilities can accelerate microgrid deployment
The article discusses the expected surge in US electricity demand, which is forecasted to grow by an average of 3% per year over the next five years. Utilities are adopting a multifaceted approach to meet this demand, including the deployment of microgrids. Duke Energy has implemented a solar-powered microgrid in Hot Springs, NC, to enhance reliability in remote areas. Meanwhile, Xcel Energy plans to establish a network of solar-powered energy storage hubs to improve reliability and support clean energy development.
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Tax breaks bring data center expansion, plus environmental concerns
US-based Minnesota has initiated a massive expansion of data centers, projecting to grow 40-50 times larger within a few years. Meta has committed an $800 million investment for a data center in Rosemount, anticipated to create 1,000 construction jobs and 100 long-term jobs by next year. Environmental groups have expressed concerns regarding water use and energy consumption as these corporations are vying for tax breaks that could extend for decades.
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It's time to GETs going... on transmission!
Oregon has enacted legislation mandating a transition to 80% clean electricity by 2030 and 100% by 2040. This shift is predominantly facilitated by Portland General Electric and Pacific Power, which delivered over half of their electricity from fossil fuels in 2021. As demand surges, driven by AI and electrification, upgrading transmission capacity through Grid Enhancing Technologies (GETs) becomes pivotal. The Oregon Legislature has an opportunity to advance this transition with proposed legislation, HB 3336.
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CenterPoint Energy reports Q4 and FY 2024 results; forecasts nearly 50% electric load growth demand at Houston Electric by 2031; increases capital investment plan; reiterates 2025 full year guidance
US-based CenterPoint Energy has reported a 50% forecasted increase in electric load demand in its Houston Electric service territory by 2031. The company has increased its 10-year capital investment plan to $47.5 billion, which includes $500 million specifically aimed at enhancing grid resiliency. CenterPoint’s President & CEO, Jason Wells, emphasized the progress made towards building a resilient coastal grid and the upcoming Systemwide Resiliency Plan, which is set to strengthen their network further and support regional economic growth.
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🌎 DeepSeek hype vs. the hyperscalers #232
Chinese AI startup DeepSeek launched its R1 model, claiming it was far cheaper and more energy-efficient to train than US competitors. Costing just $6m to develop — compared to OpenAI’s reported $100m+, DeepSeek performed similarly to leading competitors while using only ~2,000 Nvidia H800 GPUs. This breakthrough raises more questions about future power demand from AI workloads, especially as data centers were projected to consume 650-1,050 TWh by 2026. The energy efficiency claims are being closely scrutinized as inference loads may offset training savings.
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Press Release Archives - Closed Loop Partners
US-based Capricorn Investment Group made a strategic investment in Closed Loop Partners to enhance capital deployment in circular supply chains and waste reduction solutions. This investment strengthens Closed Loop Capital Management’s position in accelerating the transition to a circular economy.
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National Grid Renewables Announces Start of Operations at Two Solar Projects in Southern Minnesota
US-based National Grid Renewables has announced the start of operations at its Fillmore County Solar (45 MW) and Louise Solar (50 MW) projects, which are located in Southern Minnesota. Together, these projects will deliver a combined 95 megawatts of clean, homegrown solar power. Xcel Energy has executed power purchase agreements for both projects, contributing to Xcel’s commitment to deliver 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050. The projects are anticipated to avoid more than 2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions over their first 20 years of operation.