In the quiet farm country of southwestern Minnesota, a $4 billion mega data center is being planned by Geronimo Power—one that could consume as much electricity as a million homes and forever alter the landscape of Nobles County. While this project is still speculative, its scale and ambition demand public scrutiny now, before it’s too late.

The proposed data center near Brewster, Reading, and Tracy would bring a sprawling network of wind, solar, and battery facilities across 100,000 acres of farmland. Local residents are being asked to accept huge changes to our land, environment, and way of life—often without a seat at the table. Homes could be surrounded by industrial solar panels. Wildlife corridors would be disrupted. And rural infrastructure, already stretched thin, would be asked to support a project designed not for us, but for a wealthy tech buyer that hasn’t even been named.

Geronimo claims its clean energy model is different—but minimal water use and no NDAs don’t cancel out the massive footprint and unanswered questions. Who will ensure the grid remains reliable? What happens if local electric rates rise to subsidize this new demand? And how much input will local landowners truly have if decisions are made behind closed doors?

We urge the Nobles County Board of Commissioners, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, and all relevant decision makers to pause this project until a full, transparent public review takes place—one that centers the voices of local residents, not distant corporations.

Southwestern Minnesota has been a leader in clean energy, but this is about more than energy. It’s about protecting the land, livelihoods, and community values that define this region. Let’s make sure rural voices are heard before irreversible decisions are made.

Sign this petition to demand transparency, accountability, and local input before the Nobles County mega data center moves forward.

Photo: Erin Black/CNBC