SF 608

as introduced - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026) Posted on 03/21/2025 08:43am

A bill for an act
relating to local government; prohibiting data centers in certain districts; proposing
coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 462.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [462.3655] DATA CENTERS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Enterprise data center" means a facility comprised of one or more buildings that
are located on a single parcel or on contiguous parcels that:
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new text begin (1) in aggregate contains more than 800,000 square feet of space that house or support
the operation of enterprise information technology equipment; and
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new text begin (2) has a primary purpose of providing for the storage, management, or processing of
digital data.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Enterprise information technology equipment" means computers and equipment
supporting computing, networking, or data storage, including but not limited to cabling and
racking systems; cooling systems, cooling towers, and other temperature control
infrastructure; and power infrastructure for transformation, distribution, or management of
electricity used for the maintenance and operation of a facility, including but not limited to
exterior dedicated business-owned substations, backup power generation systems, battery
systems, and related infrastructure.
new text end

new text begin (d) "Industrial district" means an area of land that a municipality has defined by law,
rule, or ordinance to allow manufacturing facilities.
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new text begin (e) "Manufacturing facilities" means facilities used for the manufacturing, compounding,
processing, packaging, treatment, or assembly of products and materials that may or may
not emit objectionable or offensive noise, odor, dust, vibration, or other discharge, emission,
or effect beyond the lot on which the use is located. Such uses include but are not limited
to sawmills; refineries; commercial feedlots; acid; cement; explosives; flour, feed, and grain
milling or storage; meatpacking and slaughter houses; coal or tar asphalt distillation;
rendering of fat, grease, lard, or tallow; alcoholic beverages; poisons; exterminating agents;
glue or size; lime; gypsum; plaster of paris; tanneries; automobile parts; paper and paper
products; glass chemicals, crude oil, and petroleum products, including storage; electric
power generation facilities; vinegar works; junkyard; auto reduction yard; foundry forge;
casting metal products; rock, stone, and cement products; lumberyards; machine shops;
products assembly; sheet metal shops; plastics; electronics; general nonalcoholic beverages;
signs and displays; printing; publishing; fabricated metal parts; appliances; clothing; textiles;
and used auto parts.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Limitation on data center siting. new text end

new text begin (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), a
municipality must not allow the development of an enterprise data center in any zoning
district.
new text end

new text begin (b) A municipality may allow an enterprise data center as a conditional use in an industrial
district.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION. new text end

new text begin This section is effective June 20, 2025, and
applies to enterprise data centers constructed on or after that date.
new text end