Our organization started out as a grassroot group of residents that formed a coalition with the goal of protecting our residential neighborhood from the environmental impacts of hyper-scale data center development. 

These impacts include: risk of depletion of the aquifer, risk to wildlife and protected trout river, air pollution from the use of diesel generators, enormous use of electricity (city estimates at 700 megawatt), light and noise pollution.

 

As we developed relationships with neighboring, statewide, and nationwide communities through our online presence, it became clear that the magnitude and prevalence of these environmental issues are reaching communities across the country.

 

Farmington is the furthest ahead in Developer-lead data center proposals in Minnesota. We believe our case could be precedent-setting in demanding parameters on how sites need to be regulated to protect residents and our state's natural resources. 

 

We developed a toolkit to help residents address their concerns at public forums such as city council and planning commission meetings. The event was supported by the Minnesota Women's Press, CURE, MCEA, Vote Solar, and political figures.

Our organization is affiliated with 22 other non-profits, all advocating for environmental protection.

 

We organized several public meetings to educate citizens on the above mentioned impacts and how to organize to protect themselves.

We presented at the Met Council Meeting regarding zoning of residential and farmland into MUCI (mixed used commercial and industrial zone, which implies "light" industrial use, not the utility-sized energy and water use).

Our group Testified seven times at the State Legislature and multiple times at local city council.

Our Coalition Leaders engaged Attorney General and the Governor's Office regarding NDA's (Non Disclosure Agreements).