Farmington Residents Fight Massive Data Center Project

Proposed facility would more than double city's water use, residents say

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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A group of Dakota County residents are pushing back on plans for a massive 2.5 million square foot "hyperscale" data center in Farmington, Minnesota. The project would more than double the city's current water usage and require 700 megawatts of energy to operate. Residents have filed a lawsuit to block construction, citing concerns over the environment, water supply, and quality of life impacts.

Why it matters

Data centers have become a growing industry in Minnesota, with several large-scale projects proposed across the state. However, the scale and resource demands of "hyperscale" data centers have raised concerns from local communities about the long-term sustainability and impact on their neighborhoods.

The details

The proposed data center in Farmington would be built on land once reserved for a new school and a former golf course. Residents argue the project is being driven by money rather than consideration for the community's quality of life. The facility would require 700 megawatts of energy, more than most Minnesota power plants produce in a day, and would more than double Farmington's current water usage of 2.14 million gallons per day. Residents have filed a lawsuit to block construction, first on technical grounds and later adding environmental concerns.

  • In November 2026, a judge denied Farmington's motion to dismiss the case filed by residents.
  • The city council discussed the project at a session last summer.

The players

Kathy Johnson

A Farmington resident and founder of the Coalition for Responsible Data Center Development.

Mo Feshami

A Farmington resident who works in the tech industry and initially supported the data center project.

Tract

The Denver-based land development company pushing the Farmington data center project.

Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy

An organization that has filed suits on behalf of five other communities and become a party to the Farmington case.

City of Farmington

The local government that approved the data center project, but is now facing a lawsuit from residents.

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What they’re saying

“If we don't pay attention to what's going on and advocate for ourselves, no one else is going to. I think money is driving this and quality of life is not being considered. We have to do that. Quality of life matters to the people that live here and it matters to me.”

— Kathy Johnson, Farmington resident and founder of the Coalition for Responsible Data Center Development

“I thought if a data center comes in there won't be as many houses or cars or strain on the school system - until I realized this is a hyperscale data center. The data centers I used to work in, at most they used 10 megawatts. This is 708 megawatts. We used to have it in one or two floors of a large commercial building. This has its own 340-plus acres facility.”

— Mo Feshami, Farmington resident and tech industry worker

What’s next

A judge in November 2026 denied Farmington's motion to dismiss the case filed by residents. There is no timetable yet for the next steps in the legal process.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing tensions between communities and the data center industry in Minnesota, as large-scale "hyperscale" facilities raise concerns over their environmental impact, resource demands, and disruption to local quality of life. It underscores the need for careful planning and community input when siting major infrastructure projects.