FMR endorses pause on data centers
Hyperscale data centers often require massive amounts of electricity and water. The mammoth data center proposed in Farmington is estimated to drain 900 million gallons of water from the community’s aquifers, roughly double the city's total water consumption. (Photo by David Wheaton)
As the race to invest in artificial intelligence accelerates, Minnesota finds itself at the epicenter of a debate over hyperscale data centers. These massive facilities, essential for powering the next generation of AI, require enormous amounts of electricity and water, raising serious concerns about their impact on local communities and our environment.
FMR recently signed on to an opinion piece published Feb. 21, 2026, in the Star Tribune calling for a two-year moratorium or pause on data center development in Minnesota. Minnesota Center for Environmental Action was the lead author, and additional cosigners include Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light, CURE, the Center for Biological Diversity, Stop the Hermantown Data Center, the Coalition for Responsible Data Center Development, Vote Solar, WaterLegacy and Clean Water Action.
More than 21 potential data center proposals are under consideration in the state, and projects are often shrouded in secrecy.
As MCEA executive director Kathryn Hoffman wrote: "Put simply, data center proposals are moving faster than policy in Minnesota. The speed of AI investments in data centers is outstripping the ability of the state and communities to protect themselves from their rapacious demands. We need a pause."
A two-year moratorium would give lawmakers and policymakers time to assess the cumulative impacts, create a statewide strategy and ensure environmental protections are in place before approving further expansion. This approach could also make Minnesota a model for other states seeking a framework for rational development that respects natural resources.
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