# Minneapolis Narrowly Votes To Make Big Data Centers Buy Green Power

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/minneapolis-narrowly-votes-to-make-big-data-centers-buy-green-power/
- Published: 2026-11-14T20:11:11+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-15T00:27:47+00:00
- Original publisher: The Daily Caller (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://dailycaller.com/2026/11/14/minneapolis-data-center-rules-oakland-moratorium
- Topics: Elections, Politics

## Key points

- Minneapolis approved data centre restrictions by a 7-6 vote.
- Larger centres can reach 150,000 square feet if fully powered by renewables.
- Each new facility will need council approval.

## Summary

The Minneapolis City Council voted 7-6 to restrict where new data centres can open and require larger facilities to use renewable electricity. The compromise now goes to Mayor Jacob Frey, who has said he supports its regulatory framework; the rules could shape whether the city attracts data centre investment while addressing concerns about energy use and neighbourhood impacts.

Under the ordinance, facilities must be located in existing buildings in one of two downtown overlay districts, with each application requiring council approval. They are limited to 50,000 square feet, or 150,000 square feet if they buy renewable power for all their electricity; buildings must have another main use, servers cannot be on the first or second floor, and they must be at least 100 feet from nearby homes. The council rejected a proposed ban and stricter amendments, while Oakland extended its pause on new data centres until October 2027.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.