Freshwater leads regional discussions on data centers and large water users

Freshwater continues to lead discussions on smart siting of data centers and high-volume water users in Minnesota and the Great Lakes region. Want to learn more? Here are our upcoming projects and resources. Please reach out if you want to know more!

1. Please see this fact sheet for high level guidance and scoping questions for those considering high volume water use projects.
2. We have started preparing a white paper on guidance for high volume water users for the Metropolitan Council with EOR, with a target publication date by the end of this year.
3. We started a new project for regional water planning in southeastern Minnesota funded by the University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment for with the southeastern Minnesota Rural Sustainable Development Partnership, City of Byron, City of Lewiston, City of Stewartville, and the University of Minnesota. The project, entitled Data Centers, Energy, and Water: Local Government Tools for Collective Planning and Community Decision-making in SE Minnesota should be complete in 2026.
4. Freshwater will discuss data center development at the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities summer conference on Thursday, July 24, in Bemidji. The event includes a panel discussion titled, “Could a data center be right for your community?”
   Greater Minnesota communities throughout the state have been approached by companies looking to build data centers. Colleen Eddy (DEED), Christopher Waltz (Otter Tail Power Company), Michelle Stockness (Freshwater) and Greg Lerud (City of Becker) will discuss the information you need to know if your community is approached now or in the future. Moderated by Elizabeth Wefel.
5. Freshwater will participate in a webinar on September 19 with The Joyce Foundation and the Ohio Environment Council. The presentation is titled, “Evaluating Data Center Development: Tools for Local Decision-making.”
6. Freshwater will present at the American Public Works Association Minnesota fall conference on Friday November 21 with City of Farmington, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and the Minnesota Department of Health. The presentation is titled, “Understanding the Impacts of Large Water Users: Policy, Planning, and City Roles.”
7. Freshwater has contributed to a growing number of news articles on the subject of data centers and water use, including interviews with Minnesota Public Radio, Star Tribune, Inside Climate News and Great Lakes Now.