Lakeville Green Coalition

Lakeville, MN — Stay Informed

Know the Facts Before
It Comes to Lakeville

Our neighbors in Rosemount and Farmington are already navigating data centers. Learn what's at stake for our water, air, health, and quality of life — and make your voice heard now.

Take Action Now Learn the Facts

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Who We Are

A Bipartisan Community Coalition

We are a bipartisan group of Lakeville residents working to provide information on environmental concerns that will affect your quality of life. We are working together to create a more sustainable and economically vibrant community by providing educational resources and the actions you can take to make your voice heard.

Our current focus is data centers — a growing issue across the Twin Cities metro. With a facility currently under construction in Rosemount and active proposals in Farmington, we want Lakeville residents informed and engaged before these decisions arrive on our doorstep.

Contact Us: info@lakevillegreencoalition.org

The Issue

What Is a Hyperscale Data Center — and Why Should You Care?

Not all data centers are the same. Hyperscale data centers are massive, multi-building industrial ecosystems, not the giant server rooms most people imagine.

🏢

Enterprise Data Center

A company owns and operates it for their own data and cloud computing needs. Typically 5,000–20,000 sq ft, drawing up to 10 MW of power.

🏬

Colocation Center

An owner leases space to multiple businesses. Can be enterprise or hyperscale scale. Shared infrastructure, multiple tenants.

🏭

Hyperscale Data Center

Built by major tech companies for AI, crypto, and surveillance. 20,000–100,000+ sq ft, housing at least 5,000 servers, drawing around 100 MW — ten times a standard enterprise center. This is the scale data center of greatest concern to the community.

What's Happening in Our Region?

  • Rosemount: A data center is currently under construction — residents there are already experiencing the impacts of development
  • Farmington: Active proposals are underway — that community is navigating these decisions today
  • Communities with "light industrial" zoning are frequent targets — zoning written for smaller enterprise centers can be exploited to fast-track hyperscale projects
  • The use of AUARs (Alternative Urban Areawide Reviews) at the concept-plan stage evade the need to perform a full EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) that a project of this magnitude should require
  • Example developer pitch: "Data centers are inevitable — get on board now and benefit your city." This is a pressure tactic, not a community benefit

Who Is Behind the Hyperscale Push?

Major tech companies are in a race to build the biggest and cheapest data infrastructure possible. They identify communities with favorable zoning, cheap land, available power, and water — then move quickly before residents understand what's coming.

The Full Picture

Environmental, Health & Economic Concerns

The impacts of a hyperscale data center reach into every corner of community life.

🌿 Environmental

  • Water contamination: "Closed loop" cooling systems release PFAS ("forever chemicals") into the water table during regular flushing
  • Power grid strain: 100 MW (Megawatt) continuous draw stresses regional infrastructure
  • Noise pollution: Constant industrial noise from construction and 24/7/365 operation
  • Air quality: Degradation from generators
  • Heat island effect: Massive heat output changes local microclimate
  • Light pollution: High-intensity security lighting runs all day, every day
  • Evaporation: Enormous cooling water consumption removed from the local water cycle
  • Approximately 100 backup generators: Diesel or natural gas, tested regularly, with massive fuel storage tanks on-site
  • No real oversight: Insufficient monitoring and enforcement of water and electricity consumption; self-monitoring is not acceptable
  • Infrastructure damage: Roads destroyed by heavy construction vehicles; housing and food supply strained (boom-town effect)
  • Wildlife & pet impacts: Constant humming from cooling fans, generators, and mechanical systems, though inaudible to humans, is detectable by many animals including dogs and cats. This may cause increased heart rates, cortisol production, anxiety, behavioral changes and hearing damage.

🏥 Health Effects on Residents

  • Respiratory illness and increased asthma rates
  • Reproductive health issues
  • Increased health problems in children
  • Insomnia from light and sound pollution running 24/7/365
  • Increased cancer risk

💰 Economic Reality

  • Utility bills will rise — households absorb rapid cost increases while the company enjoys tax breaks
  • Well owners at risk: Pressure loss and contamination repaired at your own expense
  • Jobs are a myth: Most construction jobs are temporary and brought in from outside the area. Once operational, centers create only 50–200 permanent jobs at the largest facilities
  • Stranded asset: Possibly obsolete within a few years as technology evolves — the building is a unusable shell that generates no income and cannot serve any other industry
  • Home values: Proximity to a hyperscale industrial facility decreases property values

Your Voice Matters

What You Can Do Right Now

You have a voice in your community's future. Here's how to use it.

1

Talk to Your Neighbors

Share what you've learned about data centers. Download and print our info sheet to share at community events.

2

Attend City Meetings

Go to Lakeville City Council and Planning Committee meetings. Public comment is your most direct line to decision-makers.

Find Meeting Dates →
3

Take the 2050 Survey

Lakeville is collecting input on its 2050 city development plan. Take the survey and make sure your priorities are on record.

Take the Survey →
4

Ask for Proactive Zoning

Contact your city council members and ask them to review and update Lakeville's zoning policies for data centers now — before a proposal arrives — so our community is protected on our own terms.

Learn More

Resources & Links

Vetted resources from national organizations, researchers, and journalists covering the data center issue.

Videos

Research & Articles

Organizations & Tools

Community Templates