Walker Orenstein

1 week ago | mankatofreepress.com | Walker Orenstein |Eva Herscowitz

Questions about the quantities of water needed to keep data centers cool has become another point of contention in the debate over the industry’s explosive growth in Minnesota. That water use isn’t nearly as dramatic as the electricity needed for the data centers planned in Minnesota, which could surpass the usage of every home in the state. But planning commissioners in one Twin Cities community have cited demands on water infrastructure as a reason to block a project.

1 week ago | govtech.com | Walker Orenstein |Eva Herscowitz |Chloe Johnson

That water use isn’t nearly as dramatic as the electricity needed for the data centers planned in Minnesota, which could surpass the usage of every home in the state. But planning commissioners in one Twin Cities community have cited demands on water infrastructure as a reason to block a project. At the Capitol, DFL lawmakers want data centers to publicly disclose how much water and energy they use.

1 week ago | startribune.com | Walker Orenstein

Localized groundwater risks Most companies and cities that responded to the Minnesota Star Tribune said the data centers are expected to draw from groundwater, not lakes or rivers. Heavy groundwater use has risks, said Carrie Jennings, research and policy director for the nonprofit Freshwater.

3 weeks ago | startribune.com | Walker Orenstein

Minnesota officials say at least $12 million to help 10,000 households pay utility bills and prevent power shutoffs could be delayed after the Trump administration reportedly laid off the entire staff of the program that distributes the money. The state believes it will run out of money to help new applicants to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in mid-April.

3 weeks ago | gazettextra.com | Walker Orenstein

An influential DFL (Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party) state legislator wants tougher laws on data centers to regulate their water use and require a 65% carbon-free energy supply as the first crop of projects moves into Minnesota to support cloud computing and artificial intelligence. The bill introduced by Rep.