We, the residents of Hermantown and surrounding communities, are calling on the City of Hermantown to halt all approvals and development activities related to the proposed data center project in the southwestern part of our city.

This 1.8 million-square-foot mega-development, pushed forward with limited transparency, poses a serious threat to our way of life, our environment, and our pocketbooks.

The lack of public input throughout this process is deeply troubling. Emails obtained through public records show discussions about this project going back over a year — long before residents were made aware. NDAs signed by local officials, coupled with rushed rezoning decisions, have left us feeling excluded and betrayed by the very leaders who are supposed to represent us.

What’s at stake is far more than a piece of land. This project could dramatically reshape our community. Local residents fear steep increases in utility rates, property taxes, and water costs — all to subsidize a massive, secretive corporation whose identity remains undisclosed. Noise pollution, 50-foot buildings, and the destruction of forested land and wildlife habitat will irreversibly change the character of Hermantown and nearby townships like Solway, Proctor, and Esko.

We are not against progress. But progress must be guided by transparency, consent, and care for the people who live here. No development — no matter how big — should override the voice of a community.

We demand a full environmental impact statement, renewed public hearings, and a commitment to honesty and openness moving forward. Until these conditions are met, we urge the City of Hermantown to suspend all further work on this data center project.

Let’s protect what makes Hermantown special. Sign and share if you believe our voices should matter more than corporate secrecy.

Photo: Jana Hollingsworth/The Minnesota Star Tribune