Congressional Candidate Jake Johnson Demands Moratorium on Data Center Construction in Southern Minnesota
DFL Minnesota First Congressional District candidate Jake Johnson is calling for a moratorium on data center construction, specifically targeting projects like Google's 'Project Skyway' in Pine Island. Johnson announced his plan to prevent data centers from 'exploiting southern Minnesota' ahead of a community celebration hosted by Google for its proposed data center. Google is expected to announce its 'Panther Program' and other initiatives, including a projected $24 million investment benefiting the Pine Island School District, during the event. Johnson has outlined four requirements for data center projects to receive approval: keeping bills down, protecting farmland and natural resources, ensuring economic gains remain in Southern Minnesota, and ending non-disclosure agreements associated with these projects. He expressed concerns shared by his constituents regarding water consumption, energy usage, and noise pollution, stating that Google's promises are 'only as good as the paper they are written on.' 
