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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.
Recent Minnesota data center news
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Michigan approves 1,332MW of BESS with 332MW supporting Oracle data centre
The Michigan Public Service Commission approved six battery energy storage system (BESS) projects totalling 1,332MW.
- Main action: The MPSC approved six BESS contracts — Big Mitten Energy Centre (450MW), Monroe 1 Energy Centre (350MW), Fermi Energy Centre (200MW), Fish Creek Energy Centre (132MW), Cold Creek Energy Centre (100MW), and Pine River Energy Centre (100MW) — totalling 1,332MW. The first three projects (1,000MW) satisfy DTE Electric’s IRP settlement requiring at least 850MW, and the Big Mitten contract is a 20-year tolling agreement while Fermi and Monroe 1 are self-build contracts.
- Background and implementation details: The last three (Fish Creek, Cold Creek, Pine River) are company-owned (DTE Electric) and will support a 1,383MW data centre developed by Green Chile Ventures (Oracle) in Saline Township; Oracle/Green Chile must develop 1,383MW of company-owned storage but initially will fund 332MW of storage capacity for the data centre and cover costs over 15 years. The MPSC denied rehearing petitions, citing lack of standing and no new evidence, and set protections including a minimum 19-year contract, 80% minimum billing demand, and a termination payment up to 10 years’ worth of minimum billing demand.
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100-hour LDES battery technologies from Form, Noon and Ore: how do they compare?
This article analyses and compares commercial 100-hour batteries from Form Energy, Ore Energy and Noon Energy.
Main action: The article compares technical and commercial metrics for three commercial 100-hour LDES systems — Form Energy, Ore Energy (both iron-air) and Noon Energy (SOFC-flow). It highlights a major deployment reference: Form Energy’s 300MW / 30GWh iron-air project announced with Google to be installed alongside 1.6GW of renewable capacity for a Minnesota data centre. Cost targets are stated (Form: US$15–20/kWh, Ore: €16 / ~US$18.50/kWh, Noon: <US$20/kWh).
Background and technical details: The article summarises RTE ranges (iron-air ~35–50%, Noon 60–80%), operating temperatures (iron-air -40°C–50°C, Noon SOFC ~600–800°C likely), and system life estimates (iron-air ~20 years; Ore assumed similar; Noon undisclosed). It collates published references (Form Energy presentations, OSTI and IOP reports, Fraunhofer analysis) and notes gaps where companies have not publicly disclosed full data.
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Form Energy signs 12GWh agreement to supply multi-day iron-air batteries to new US AI data centres
Form Energy has signed a 12GWh supply agreement with Crusoe for iron-air batteries, announced at CERAWeek 2026.
- Main announcement: The agreement secures 12GWh of iron-air battery capacity for Crusoe with secured volumes, pricing and delivery terms beginning in 2027; Form Energy said the batteries will be manufactured at its Form 1 factory in West Virginia.
- Background and details: The article references Form Energy’s other 2026 commitments including a 30GWh element in the Google–Xcel Energy multi-technology supply deal (enabling 100-hour dispatch of 300MW) and a planned 10MW / 1,000MWh project with FuturEnergy Ireland expected online in 2029; the Crusoe agreement is significant but prospective until first projects are underway, and questions remain about round-trip efficiency (RTE) of iron-air technology.
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Welcome Katie, Anna, and Makhai
Fresh Energy has announced three new staff and fellows to support its mission to equitably and rapidly decarbonize Minnesota.
- New hires and roles: Fresh Energy welcomed Katie Maxwell as Associate, Electricity, Anna Edmunds as a Humphrey School fellow (University of Minnesota), and Makhai/Mahkai Hunt as the 2026 Capitol Pathways intern; these individuals will contribute to Minnesota-focused clean electricity, legislative engagement, and equity work. Katie earned an M.E.M. from Duke in 2025 and will work on Integrated Resource Plans (IRPs), data centers, and virtual power plants; Anna is pursuing an MPP at the Humphrey School and will track PUC dockets, energy affordability, and energy burden cap legislation; Makhai is a Macalester College junior and will work with Fresh Energy’s Public Affairs team during the 2026 Capitol Pathways internship.
- Background and implementation details: The announcement references prior experience and institutional partnerships: Katie’s background includes work with Faith in Place, the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, and Duke’s Nicholas Institute; Anna previously worked at the Wisconsin Public Service Commission and will work alongside Shubha Harris on Minnesota PUC dockets and research including data center impacts on energy and water; Makhai will work with Brynn Kirsling and the ongoing Capitol Pathways program (hosted by Fresh Energy for eight years) to support legislative engagement and representation efforts.
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Google Signs Deal for Demand Response Capacity for Data Centers
Google has announced it has integrated 1 GW of demand response capacity into its long-term energy contracts with multiple U.S. utilities.
- Main announcement: Google integrated 1 GW of demand response capacity into long-term energy contracts with multiple U.S. utilities, explicitly naming Indiana Michigan Power (I&M), Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), Entergy Arkansas, Minnesota Power, and DTE Energy.
- Background and details: Since initial agreements with I&M and TVA last year, Google says the capability lets it limit or shift ML workloads in data centers to support grid balancing; Google is a founding member of EPRI DCFlex and is collaborating with states, regulators, and utility partners to modernize power system planning.
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A new milestone for smart, affordable electricity growth
Google has announced it integrated 1 GW of demand response capacity into long-term energy contracts with multiple U.S. utilities.
- Main announcement: Google has integrated a total of 1 gigawatt (GW) of demand response capacity into long-term energy contracts with multiple U.S. utilities (including Indiana Michigan Power (I&M), Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), Entergy Arkansas, Minnesota Power, and DTE Energy) to allow the company to shift or reduce ML workloads, deploy demand response quickly to bridge short-term load growth, and help new data centers connect more rapidly to local grids.
- Background and implementation details: These contracts position demand response as a capacity resource alongside solar, geothermal and long-duration energy storage; Google cites collaboration with states, regulators and utility partners, participation in initiatives like EPRI DCFlex, and notes limits to availability by location and that demand response helps cover peak periods while longer-term generation/storage projects are developed.
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US Roundup: solar-plus-storage projects advance across the country
Google and DTE Energy have announced plans to develop a data centre project in Michigan (Project Cannoli) supported by 1,600MW of solar PV and 450MW of energy storage, with Google funding the resources and DTE operating them under a 20-year Clean Capacity Accelerator Agreement (CCAA).
- Main announcement: Google and DTE will deliver 1,600MW of solar PV paired with 450MW of storage (specified as 400MW/1,600MWh BESS plus 50MW of LDES), under a 20-year CCAA; Google will provide DTE with approximately 300MW of Zonal Resource Credits (ZRCs) at no cost and commit US$10 million to programmes to reduce household energy bills in Michigan.
- Additional details & background: The filing identifies the site as Project Cannoli (potentially in Van Buren Township); Google recently closed a US$4.75 billion acquisition of TPG Rise Climate’s Intersect Power stake and has announced multi‑billion data centre and AI capital plans (Google cited US$40 billion for three Texas data centres and US$185 billion in AI‑related capex for the year). Related US project announcements in the article include: Sunraycer (620MWdc solar, 477MWh BESS in Texas), Invenergy/SRP SunDog (200MW solar + 200MW/800MWh BESS in Arizona), Idemitsu Azalea (60MW/152MWh operating in California), and Clēnera’s US$304 million financing for the 120MW/400MWh Crimson Orchard project in Idaho.
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Google data center environmental review process sparks debate in Hermantown community
Hermantown city officials have announced they are updating the AUAR for the proposed Google data center.
- Main action: Hermantown is updating the AUAR (alternative urban area-wide review) for the proposed Google data center after the AUAR was approved in October; the city expects the AUAR update to take seven months, will hold two public comment periods, and permitting cannot proceed until environmental review is complete.
- Background and details: Opponents are calling for an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) instead; the Minnesota EQB states that AUAR and EIS provide comparable levels of analysis but differ in use case (EIS for a specific project, AUAR for area-wide scenarios). Hermantown cites the project’s “rapidly evolving technological elements” and a projected 8–10 year construction period as reasons the AUAR’s flexibility and status as a “living-document” are appropriate. The city, as the responsible governmental unit (RGU), has the final decision on the level of environmental review.
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Google bets big on 30GWh of Form Energy’s iron-air battery storage despite efficiency trade-offs
Xcel Energy announced it will install 30GWh of Form Energy’s iron‑air batteries at Google’s Pine Island, Minnesota data centre.
- Project scope: Xcel Energy and Google have agreed to deploy a 300MW/30GWh iron‑air battery project using Form Energy’s 100‑hour battery system to provide multi‑day (several days) discharge capability and support reliable, around‑the‑clock power on a grid with rising renewable penetration and extreme weather exposure.
- Background and details: The announcement describes the system as multi‑day energy storage; Form Energy co‑founder and CEO Mateo Jaramillo called it “the largest battery system by energy capacity ever announced globally.” The project location is Pine Island, Minnesota, and parties explicitly named are Xcel Energy, Form Energy, and Google.
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Google Data Center in Minnesota Would Be Powered by Wind, Energy Storage
Minnesota Power has signed an electric service agreement (ESA) with Google to supply energy for a 700-MW data center in Hermantown, Minnesota.
- Main announcement: The ESA commits to powering the proposed 700-MW data center using 300 MW of wind power and 400 MW of battery storage, operating under an existing regulated rate structure; Google will fund necessary energy infrastructure costs, and the ESA will be filed with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission for review and approval later this month.
- Background and other details:Google will provide $5 million in energy impact funding for Minnesota Power’s energy affordability and efficiency programs for low- to moderate-income residential customers, and the data center will contribute millions of dollars each year to the statewide energy efficiency and weatherization program as specified in the 2025 Minnesota data center energy law; Minnesota Power reports more than 60% of its generation comes from renewables under its EnergyForward strategy.