Google Vows to Quell Concerns Over Proposed Data Center

Google has promised to address concerns about its proposed data center in Hermantown, Minnesota. The tech giant is aiming to quell worries over noise levels, wetland damage, and groundwater contamination.

Liz Schwab, who works in market development at Google, presented a list of community and environmental promises after the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources shared environmental concerns earlier this month.

Google has revised its site plan to reduce wetland impacts by 37% compared with the originally proposed plan. The company will also collect data on surface and groundwater to protect trout streams and possibly install monitoring wells over the next several months to establish baseline data and monitor water impacts.

The promises have been met with skepticism from community members, who are concerned that Google's commitments may not be enough to mitigate the negative effects of the data center.