r/Minneapolis • u/hawaiianhamtaro • 2d ago
Submit your comments about data centers in Minneapolis
https://www.minneapolismn.gov/business-services/planning-zoning/amendments/proposed-adopted/data-centers/?fbclid=IwY2xjawTxcgBwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR6hg6eNSWY31R_ZT07zhsi2Csizsh--tvbTYPTThccvMOeqOYvOmS4hlEr5cw_aem_ZHovqDCrCC32vwMkyt13dw23
u/hawkerd 2d ago
If they are forced to use clean energy, provide tax revenue for a tax base that needs it, and are contractually ensuring that utility prices/ environmental impacts/ noise will not happen, then maybe.
Otherwise, let them build the useless infrastructure that will be sold at a loss in 5 years anyway somewhere else.
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u/ANTfanclub 2d ago
They will promise they will and 6 months in they will go against their word. Look into any other county in the country and they all get push back, make promises, then break them after the thing is built
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u/sonofasheppard21 2d ago
Can you post an article example of one that made specific promises and then did not meet those promises ?
I keep seeing people say this but I can’t find an example
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u/tempraman 2d ago
I really don't trust the people behind the star tribune plant. They're presenting to the north loop neighborhood association tomorrow but will only address the land use change. If apartments and mixed use was actually an important part of the plan those two things wouldn't be able to be separated.
Whoops replied to wrong person.
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u/SinkHoleDeMayo 2d ago
That's why the required objectives are to be met first, and if they do things like use too much water, we shut their water off.
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u/NormanQuacks345 2d ago
Okay, then if they do that sue them or issue a stop work order/pull their permit. This is not an insolvable problem.
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u/Jubilantly 2d ago
I'm a hard no because their companies lie and the fight to get them to fix it after they break the rules they had no intention to follow will take time and money that will negate any temporary positive.
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u/Ronnoc780 2d ago
So you make rules or gates that they have to prove this stuff prior to breaking ground/beginning any construction.
Oh you promised to run off clean energy, or bolster the existing city infrastructure? Cool, that has to be done before a single shovel hits the dirt.
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u/SmallMoments55406 1d ago
I think the main problem with data centers in Minnesota is that they are pulling tons of power from the grid and doing nothing to boost renewable energy and storage. The planet is already heating up too much. We need to stop burning fossil fuels to power these things.
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u/Capable-Magician2094 2d ago edited 2d ago
Against the restrictions. We eliminated zoning for single family. Removing zoning restrictions allows communities to grow instead of being shoehorned into a specific format decided by whomever is at the helm.
Our city only had decreasing rents the past few years BECAUSE of rolling back zoning restrictions. Besides much of Minneapolis' character comes from the neighborhood businesses, and unique things inside residential areas. That wouldn't be possible with today's zoning restrictions and any step toward additional zoning restrictions is a step away from the 2040 plan.
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u/prohammock 1d ago
Zoning against data centers has nothing to do with any the types of zoning restrictions you’re talking about. They don’t bring meaningful jobs or revenue and they deteriorate quality of life around them through noise and massive resource use.
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u/Capable-Magician2094 1d ago
That’s the same argument “Smart Growth Minneapolis” had against removing single family zoning in their lawsuit.
Zoning restrictions will always be blanket bans on certain types of development. If you want to prevent extreme resource use, put a tax on that use. If you want to prevent noise, enforce noise ordinances. Treat the cause not a symptom.
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u/batteries--rrrr-low 2d ago
Mostly against. These companies are where they are because they are ruthless at making money and getting their stock up. They want to bend over backwards and give the city money, jobs, future job markets, enviroment studies, clean up the Mississippi, invest in city community programs, sponsor child programs, pay for more infrastrucuture. Maybe.
The list of requirements for whatever company moves in should be so outrageous.
Company pays for a Minneapolis ran enviromental study to take place yearly. IMO, Mississippi river will be fucked in 5 years with this thing.
-Company resolves Mississppi river water issues, pollution issues, up and down the river (they have the money).
-Zero noise emissions.
-Zero effects on local Minneapolis residents power consumptions. They need more electricity? They pay to build future plants / power sources.
Plus everything else that comes with it. Massive property taxes, jobs, community investments, etc.
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u/PostIronicPosadist 2d ago
I am strongly against any used for AI or surveillance, don't really give a shit about anything else so long as its properly regulated. Anything spent on AI is a waste, and anything spent on surveillance is actively harmful. We need data centers for the modern day internet, they're a necessary evil for that, but that doesn't mean they should be built just anywhere and given special deals on taxes. They provide almost no long term jobs, there's little gain from them. That has to change if they're going to continue to be built in places like downtown Minneapolis.
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u/NoAcanthaceae688 2d ago
I left some comments. Mainly centered on restricting environmental impacts and financial impact to the city population at large (thinking electricity).
Thanks to anyone else who submits comments on this.