Minnesota Data Center Construction: A Midterm Issue
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What's at Stake in Minnesota's Data Center Debate
Oct 16, 2026
Hyperscaler data centers, a relatively new phenomenon in Minnesota, have sparked a backlash and become a significant issue in the midterm elections.
Technology
By Nancy Marshall-Genzer
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Gary and Cathy Johnson, pictured in front of their Farmington home in November 2024, have been fighting the construction of a nearby data center since then, but construction is now moving forward.
Kirsti Marohn | MPR News
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Big hyperscaler data centers are just beginning to appear in Minnesota, and they've already ignited a fierce debate. These data centers have become a central issue in the midterm elections.
To gain a firsthand understanding of the data center battle, I visited Cathy and Gary Johnson's home in Minnesota’s second congressional district, located in the suburbs south of Minneapolis-Saint Paul.
Cathy Johnson, above, and her husband formed a nonprofit and filed a lawsuit to stop a nearby data center proposal. They were worried about environmental damage, noise, and bright lights.
Nancy Marshall-Genzer/Marketplace
For over two years, the Johnsons have been battling a plan to convert a golf course across the street into a data center. They launched a nonprofit and filed a lawsuit, but they ran out of funds and had to drop the suit. Despite their efforts, construction will soon commence. Minnesota did pass a law last year requiring the largest projects to consider efficient water use, but Cathy Johnson believes it's insufficient.
“There’s no teeth there,” she said. “It’s like recommending that you follow the speed limit.”
Terrie Pearson, the Johnsons' neighbor, plans to sell her home next to the data center site. She estimates she'll receive about $500,000 if she sells now, but only $100,000 less if she waits until construction begins.
Nancy Marshall-Genzer/Marketplace
We reached out to Tract, the developer of the Farmington site, but did not receive a response by the deadline. Kevin Pranis, with the Laborers International Union of North America, which represents data center construction workers, joined me at the Johnson's house.
Pranis argued that data centers can contribute to Minnesota's construction workforce by providing apprenticeship sites. He proposed solutions to address the Johnsons' concerns, such as thicker walls and insulation to reduce noise, and redirecting bright lights away from nearby homes.
“Either we can keep training new people in the craft or training fewer people, because we don't want people unemployed and frustrated with their careers,” he said.
Pranis mentioned that apprentices gained experience working on a Meta data center in nearby Rosemount.
Dan McConnell, president of the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council, opposes a proposed temporary national moratorium on data center construction.
“I think local communities deserve the ability to determine what makes sense for them, and they should have the tools they need to make sure that there're not negative impacts,” he said.
The unions within the council hold differing views on the data center issue.