I’ve been on the Environmental Quality Board about data center environmental review, and attended the last two meetings — they’re aware of issues with Alternative Urban Area Review (AUAR) review where AUAR process is misused, but what are they doing? Working on AUAR Guidance update is going to be too little, too late.

EQB discusses data center AUARs & H2O November 20th, 2025

EQB working on AUAR Guidance August 11th, 2025

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Cannon Falls has data center going forward, and the AUAR process was not only misleading in what was proposed — we know it was a data center, but that was NOT made public, plans were not made public. “All it took” was a Data Practices Act Request to get plans, many, and information about what was really on the table, errrrrr… under the table. Here’s a plan that is pretty specific:

AUAR – Cannon Falls Data Ctr – Comments due 6/26 June 18th, 2025

Data Practices Act Requests are a crucial part of getting the information that is NOT being disclosed:

Tract Data Center in Cannon Falls June 24, 2025

Info needed re: Cannon Falls Data Center May 15th, 2025

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Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy has been doing a great job challenging some of the 17 (now maybe more?) data centers proposed in Minnesota. Thus far, the ones I know of are, as of September:

MCEA is challenging five of them, FIVE — an appeal of Faribault’s denial of need for an EIS in appellate court; and Lakeville, North Mankato, Hermantown, and Pine Island in District Court using the Minnesota Environmental Rights Act.

Here’s their brief in the Faribault appeal, Court File A25-1617:

As for the ones challenged in District Court under the Minnesota Environmental Rights Act, Minn. Stat. ch. 116B, here are some of the filings:

HERMANTOWN:

PINE ISLAND:

LAKEVILLE:

NORTH MANKATO:

Keep an eye on these cases! To do so, go HERE and search for the case file, and check it out:

Here’s an MCEA webinar about their work on Data Centers.

Don’t forget the Xcel Energy “large load” tariff docket at the Public Utilities Commission: M-25-289.

WTAF???

Here’s the online version:

In Red Wing’s John Rich Park, protests against the Trump administration

It took over a month for this to appear, but here it is!! December 26 will be our 47th Friday protest.

Come on down! Bring a sign about your priority issue, or use one of our extras.

UPDATE: This has been disappeared, redacted removing references to Trump, and reposted.

Saving for posterity. From Giuffre v. Maxwell Case No. 1:15-CV-07433, Exhibit A which was overly redacted, but wasn’t fully redacted of references to Trump, and like some other documents released, will probably be illegally disappeared soon (and note the Bates numbers, many pages from Ransome are missing, they may not be part of this Exhibit A but I’ll bet their relevant and interesting):

Yes, OOPS! The Public Utilities Commission didn’t publish notice of the Annual Infrastructure Permitting Hearing as required by statute, so here it is — the full notice as published in the Current Monitor: December 16, 2025 Volume 49, Number 50, quoted in full:

Minnesota Public Utilities Commission – Annual Infrastructure Permitting Hearing

Notice description: On 12/9/2025, The Commission held the Annual Infrastructure Permitting Hearing under Minnesota Statute § 216I.15 – however, it was inadvertently missed that the notice was not submitted to the EQB Monitor. The 12/9/2025 recording of the hearing will be played at an additional, online only hearing via WebEx that will be held on December 29, 2025 at 10:30 AM. Information to join that meeting can be found on the PUC calendar on the date of the hearing, 12/9/2025, at: https://mn.gov/puc/about-us/calendar/. You can also find an updated version of the Notice in eDockets using the docket number 25-18, at: https://efiling.web.commerce.state.mn.us/ You can also join the WebEx meeting using the login information below.

Public meeting date, time, location: December 29, 2025, 10:30 a.m., Online meeting
Public meeting virtual link: Join online meeting
Public meeting additional details: Telephone: 1-855-282-6330
Event Password: PUC2025! (667820 when dialing from a phone)
Webinar Number: 2485 945 6472
Meeting video and audio are available via the internet. Logon five to 15 minutes before the meeting begins. You will be asked to join the meeting through a Webex application or through a plug-in for your web browser. You will be asked to enter your name and email address. Attendees will be muted. If you would like to ask a question or make a comment during the meeting, use the chat function to send a message to the meeting moderator. Your line will be unmuted, and you will be able to ask your question or make a comment. You may call in on your telephone and listen to the meeting. If you would like to ask a question or make a comment during the meeting, press *3 on your telephone. General information about attending a hearing using the WebEx platform can be found at: https://mn.gov/puc/activities/meetings/webex/
If you have questions about participating in the meeting or need assistance during the meeting, please contact Commission staff person Sam Lobby (details below).

Link to additional information: PUC infrastructure permitting additional information

Contact: Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, Sam Lobby, 651-201-2205