Minnesota Lawmakers Target Secret Data Center Agreements

Local government officials in several Minnesota communities used nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) and code names to conceal plans for massive AI data centers from the public. In Hermantown, a project titled "Project Loon" involves 1.8 million square feet of processors across 200 acres, while Meta utilized the code name "Project Bigfoot" for a campus in Rosemount. Local jurisdictions argued that these agreements are necessary to protect proprietary data and remain competitive, but critics claim the secrecy facilitates hidden lobbying and erodes public trust.

Erin Maye Quade, a Minnesota State Senator, introduced legislation to bar local officials from signing NDAs for data center projects. Although her initial bill failed, she intends to reintroduce the measure in the next legislative session with bipartisan support. At the county level, St. Louis County Commissioner Ashley Grimm proposed a prohibition on commissioners signing such agreements, though the proposal was rejected by the board.

Transparency efforts have also moved into the courts. The Minnesota Center For Environmental Advocacy has filed public records requests and lawsuits against several cities, including Faribault, Pine Island, North Mankato, and Lakeville, to force the disclosure of data center details. Other large-scale developments continue to move forward, such as a hyperscale data center project by Tract in Farmington.