Shaping Minnesota's Data Center Future Together

Shaping Minnesota's Data Center Future Together
AFCOM Greater Minnesota invites residents, community leaders, tribal representatives, industry partners, and policymakers to help build trusted, fact-based resources about data centers for every corner of our state.
Join Us!
An Invitation to Participate
On behalf of AFCOM Greater Minnesota, we invite you to join one or more of our statewide workstreams focused on the future of Minnesota's data center industry. Our five workstreams are developing five educational one-pagers designed for all Minnesota residents and constituents providing clear, factual, and accessible information about data centers and their potential impact on communities throughout our state.
The completed resources will support education and conversations leading up to AFCOM Greater Minnesota's Day on the Hill during the first quarter of 2027. These resources are being created for everyone in Minnesota, informed by subject matter experts and the people who live, work, and serve in our communities.
⚡ Power and Energy
Grid impacts, renewables, and rate fairness
💧 Water and Environment
Stewardship, cooling technology, and groundwater
🏗️ Community Impact
Construction, traffic, noise, and good-neighbor practices
💼 Economic Impact
Jobs, tax revenue, and workforce development
🤝 Community Engagement
FAQs, myth-busting, and public meeting tools
Each workstream meets on a regular schedule — generally every other week — with virtual participation available to make involvement accessible to people throughout the state. All five one-pagers will be delivered on December 3 at Mortenson in Golden Valley.
Complete the Interest Form
Our 2026 Quarterly Roundtable Series
Building momentum across every quarter, from establishing working groups to going to the Hill with resources our communities can use. Each milestone is designed to ensure broad input, rigorous fact-checking, and statewide distribution of trusted information.
1
Q1 State of the Union
April 29, 2026
Hennepin Technical College
Human-centric industry focus established
2
Q2 Community Engagement
July 8, 2026
Establishing working groups and community engagement initiative
3
Q3 Workstream Review
October 28, 2026
Review factual workstream data points and align membership on the facts: Register Here
4
Q4 1-Pager Distribution
December 3, 2026
Package and distribute AFCOM-branded 1-pagers statewide, followed by end-of-year industry gathering
5
2027 Q1 Day on the Hill
February 2027
MN State Capitol — Distribute AFCOM-branded 1-pagers to legislators
6
2027 Q2 State of the Union
April 28, 2027
Hennepin Technical College — Human-centric industry focus renewed
Humphrey School of Public Affairs
University of Minnesota Policy Fellows Program
Humphrey School Policy Fellows
Overview of the Toolkit
A community-facing resource designed to help local leaders and residents understand data center development — what it means, what questions to ask, and how to engage constructively.
Key Findings & Recommendations
What the research revealed about community needs, information gaps, and the most pressing concerns raised by Minnesotans facing new data center development.
Common Community Questions
The most frequently asked questions from communities — and how to answer them accurately using verified, accessible facts.
How the Research Was Conducted
Methodology, sources, and the academic rigor behind the toolkit's development at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
2025–2026 Cohort
2025–2026 Humphrey Policy Fellows
Protecting Our Natural Resources While Retaining a Competitive Data Center Economy
The Humphrey Policy Fellows tackled one of Minnesota's most pressing emerging challenges — how to balance the rapid growth of data center infrastructure with the state's deep commitment to environmental stewardship and community well-being.
Policy Fellows Program: Developing Minnesota's Leaders
The Policy Fellows program is one of the nation's most esteemed public affairs leadership experiences. Over nine months, participants engage directly with public officials, receive intensive leadership training, and collaborate with a diverse cohort of peers from across the state. Fellows undertake impactful projects designed to benefit the wider Minnesota community.
Who Is Selected
Each year, 35 leaders from government, business, and nonprofit sectors statewide are chosen through a competitive application process. Fellows represent Minnesota's full geographic, professional, and demographic diversity.
What Fellows Do
Cohort members come together monthly and participate in a multi-day study trip to Washington, D.C. — building relationships with national leaders and bringing those insights back to strengthen Minnesota's civic infrastructure.
Program Reflection: Why We Chose This Topic
Rooted in Minnesota's civic tradition, the Policy Fellows program embraces the values of bipartisanship, inclusivity, and the pursuit of common-good solutions to public challenges. When the 2025–2026 cohort selected data centers as their focus, they were guided by a conviction that this topic — while seemingly contentious — is exactly the kind of challenge where grounded, fact-based dialogue can produce real progress.
Rapid Proliferation
Data center development is accelerating across Minnesota, creating urgent questions for communities, utilities, and local governments
Bipartisan Opportunity
The topic crosses political lines — presenting a genuine opportunity to model constructive, evidence-based public discourse
Technological Necessity
Data centers are essential infrastructure for today's digital economy — the question is how to develop them responsibly
Community Stakes
Residents, tribal nations, and local leaders deserve accurate information to participate meaningfully in decisions that affect them
Milestones: From Strategic Planning to a Finished Toolkit
The Policy Fellows team pursued a rigorous, community-informed process — building a comprehensive timeline that moved from strategic planning through stakeholder engagement, hands-on site experience, and expert collaboration. The goal: produce a practical, easy-to-use toolkit for local officials and municipalities when they are approached by a data center developer.
1
Strategic Planning
Scoped the project and established key deliverables and timelines
2
Panel Discussion
Engaged diverse stakeholders including industry, government, and community voices
3
Data Center Tour
First-hand look at real facilities to ground the research in operational reality
4
Toolkit Delivery
Comprehensive, accessible resources ready for use by any Minnesota community
Site Visit
Data Center Tour
Seeing a real data center firsthand was a pivotal milestone for the Policy Fellows cohort. The tour provided direct, operational context that no amount of reading alone could replicate, and surfaced one of the project's most important insights.
Tour Details
June 3, 2026 at the 3M Maplewood Campus
Hosted by AFCOM
What Was Toured
An enterprise-scale working facility representative of the facilities many Minnesota communities will encounter
Key Takeaway
There is a significant difference between enterprise data centers and hyperscale data centers, a distinction that matters enormously for community impact conversations
Recommendations for Future Action
The Policy Fellows recommend a three-pronged approach to protecting Minnesota's natural resources while retaining a competitive data center economy. This approach is focused on providing transparency and understanding in the short term, while encouraging all Minnesotans to evaluate our values as consumers in the long run as technology continues to evolve.
🔍 Transparency Now
Ensure communities have access to clear, accurate, and timely information about data center projects before decisions are made, not after
📋 Shared Standards
Encourage the adoption of consistent best practices across the industry for environmental reporting, community engagement, and workforce commitments
🌱 Long-Term Values
Invite Minnesotans to reflect on how our collective technology consumption shapes resource demands — and what kind of future we want to build
Community Engagement Initiative
AFCOM as a Neutral Educational Resource
Our role is not advocacy, it is education. AFCOM provides credible, fact-based information to communities, elected officials, and the public about data center development in Minnesota. We believe that well-informed communities make better decisions, and that trust is built through consistency and transparency. We do not represent a client or specific data center provider. We are Minnesota constituents first. 
The 1-Pager Roadmap: From Working Groups to the Hill
Community members must be at the table with us throughout this process. Our goal is to ensure that every 1-pager reflects not just industry knowledge, but the real questions and concerns of the communities we serve. This roadmap moves from formation to distribution in a structured, accountable way.
1. Established.
Formed working groups, identified workstream leads, and continuous invitations to ensure all community voices are represented at the table
2. Gathering
Collecting workstream data, filling information gaps, and bringing in subject matter experts and community perspectives
3. Validate
Review facts, align membership on verified data points, and ensure every claim can be substantiated
4. Package & Deploy
Create AFCOM-branded 1-pagers, distribute statewide, and bring resources to elected officials on the Hill
Member Breakout Work Sessions: Five Workstreams
Who is still missing from the table? Each workstream is led by a dedicated member volunteer. Ensuring that every region, background, and lived experience has a seat at the table before we begin gathering facts.
Workstream 1: Power and Energy
Grid impacts, utility planning, renewable energy integration, and energy cost transparency for Minnesota ratepayers
Workstream 2: Water and Environmental Stewardship
Water consumption, cooling technologies, groundwater concerns, and environmental best practices
Workstream 3: Community Impact and Construction
Traffic, noise, site design, visual impacts, and good-neighbor standards during and after construction
Workstream 4: Economic and Workforce Impact
Construction jobs, permanent careers, local tax revenue, and broader economic multiplier effects
Workstream 5: Community Engagement Resources
Readiness checklists, FAQs, myth-vs-fact content, public meeting guidance, and outreach templates
Workstream 1
Power and Energy
Minnesota's electric grid is evolving rapidly. This workstream examines what large data center loads mean for the broader grid, how utilities plan for new demand, and how the state's energy policy landscape shapes data center development decisions. The goal is to provide honest, accessible answers to the questions communities are already asking.
Grid Impacts
How large data center loads affect the broader Minnesota grid and what that means for all ratepayers
Utility Planning
How utilities accommodate large new loads — timelines, process, and coordination requirements
Renewable Energy
The role of solar, wind, and emerging clean energy in powering Minnesota data centers responsibly
Energy Costs and Community Concerns
Honest answers about who pays for new infrastructure and how costs are shared across ratepayers
Minnesota Energy Policy
The regulatory and policy landscape shaping energy decisions for data centers in Minnesota today
Workstream 2
Water and Environmental Stewardship
Minnesota is a water-rich state with deep commitments to environmental stewardship. This workstream addresses how data centers use water, what cooling technologies are available, and how the industry can operate responsibly within our natural resource constraints. Verified facts — not assumptions — will guide every answer.
Water Consumption
How much water data centers use, how that compares to other industries, and what it means for Minnesota's water resources
Cooling Technologies
Air-side, water-side, and liquid cooling approaches — and how technology choices affect environmental impact
Closed-Loop Systems
How closed-loop cooling reduces water consumption and discharge, and when these systems are applicable
Groundwater Concerns
Addressing community concerns about groundwater draw and discharge — separating myths from verified facts
Environmental Best Practices
Industry standards and emerging best practices for minimizing the environmental footprint of data center operations
Workstream 3
Community Impact and Construction
Construction is where data center development becomes real for neighboring residents. This workstream examines the on-the-ground impacts — from the first truck to long-term operations — and highlights the standards and practices that define responsible, community-minded development in Minnesota.
Traffic and Logistics
Construction traffic impacts on local roads — and how responsible operators plan and mitigate disruptions
Construction Impacts
Timeline and nature of construction activity, including noise, dust, and site access for surrounding neighborhoods
Noise and Air Emissions
How construction and operational noise is measured and managed, and what air emission standards apply
Site Design and Visual Impacts
How facility design, screening, and landscaping address community concerns about aesthetics and site footprint
Good-Neighbor Practices
Industry standards for proactive community communication, local hiring commitments, and ongoing neighbor relations
Workstream 4
Economic and Workforce Impact
Data centers represent significant economic opportunity for Minnesota communities — from construction employment and permanent skilled careers to property tax contributions and supply chain partnerships. This workstream will document and verify the real economic picture so communities can make informed decisions.
Construction Jobs
Volume and type of construction employment — local hiring, skilled trades, and project timelines
Operations Careers
Permanent, skilled operations roles that data centers create — compensation ranges and career pathways for Minnesotans
Manufacturing and Supply Chain
Indirect economic benefits through local procurement, manufacturing partnerships, and supply chain opportunities
Local Tax Revenue
The property tax and fiscal contributions that data centers make to host communities and school districts
Economic Development Benefits
Broader economic multiplier effects — how data center investment catalyzes growth across the regional economy
Workstream 5
Community Engagement Resources
The most carefully researched facts are only valuable if communities can access and use them. This workstream develops practical tools that any resident, elected official, or community spokesperson can pick up and use — making it easier to hold well-informed, productive conversations about data center development anywhere in Minnesota.
Community Readiness Checklist
A practical tool to help communities assess their preparedness and identify key questions before a project arrives
Frequently Asked Questions
Vetted, factual answers to the most common community questions — ready for use by any spokesperson or elected official
Myth vs. Fact Content
Clear, evidence-based responses to common misconceptions circulating in communities and media
Public Meeting Preparation
Guidance for facilitating productive public meetings — presenting information, managing questions, and staying grounded in facts
Stakeholder and Community Outreach
Templates and strategies for proactive engagement — reaching community groups, media, and elected officials effectively
Workstream Leadership: Who Leads Each Table?
Each workstream is led by experienced Minnesota professionals who volunteered their time and expertise. Co-leads provide additional coordination support and ensure continuity. These individuals are accountable to the full AFCOM membership for the quality and accuracy of their workstream's 1-pager.
Next Steps: Building Toward October and Beyond
The work established today sets a clear path from workstream formation to statewide distribution and legislative engagement. Each milestone builds on the last — grounding every conversation in verified facts and ensuring that Minnesota's data center community shows up to the Capitol as a credible, community-minded partner.
🗓️ October 28, 2026 — Q3 Review and Align
Present each workstream's data at the Q3 Quarterly Roundtable. Full membership and guests review and agree on the facts. No advocacy — only alignment on what the evidence shows.
📦 December 3, 2026 — Package and Distribute
Finalize AFCOM-branded 1-pagers with membership validation and sources. Distribute statewide alongside the Policy Fellows toolkit — available for anyone in Minnesota to use.
🏛️ Q1 2027 — Go to the Hill
Bring our resources to elected officials. Engage in fact-based conversations, answer questions, and demonstrate that Minnesota's data center community is a credible and community-minded partner at the State Capitol.
🎓 April 28, 2027 — Annual State of the Union
Annual gathering hosted at Hennepin Technical College. Review progress, celebrate outcomes, and set the agenda for the year ahead with the full AFCOM Greater Minnesota membership.
Thank You — Let's Build This Together
MN AFCOM Greater Minnesota Chapter Board of Directors
Community First
Our communities deserve accurate, trusted information. That is why we are doing this work — and why community members belong at our table from day one.
Member Led, AFCOM Supported
This initiative succeeds because members volunteer their time and expertise. AFCOM provides the structure, branding, and distribution — you provide the knowledge and community connections.
Ready to Join a Workstream?
If you are ready to contribute your knowledge, experience, and community perspective, we would be honored to have you. Complete the brief interest form below and the AFCOM Greater Minnesota Board will connect you with the appropriate workstream leaders.
Join a Workstream Today
Tiffany Kovaleski, MN AFCOM President | CEO, The GOR Group
📞 612-227-2381 | ✉️ [email protected]