Google pitches Hermantown data center with less impact, debate continues

There was a larger-than-normal police presence at Monday’s Hermantown City Council meeting following a disturbance last week that led to a man being escorted out of the chambers, with multiple officers stationed around the building.

As they have for months, the group ‘Stop the Hermantown Data Center’ sat together in a sea of red.

Tuesday morning, some of them are heading down to Minneapolis for a rally opposing data centers and copper-nickel mines, as Governor Tim Walz gives his exit interview.

STHDC member Jim Klukkert said Walz “hasn’t been there” for people on the issue of data center, and said the state needs a full moratorium.

“We’re going with colors, we’re going with red, we’re going with buttons, and Hermantown leads the way,” he said “It’s all downhill from Hermantown.”

A Google representative gave a presentation to the council sharing some updates were about lessening the…