HF245

This legislative bill from Minnesota proposes to regulate where data centers can be located. The bill defines an enterprise data center as a large facility, over 800,000 square feet, used primarily for storing, managing, or processing digital data. It includes descriptions of the equipment used, such as computers, cooling systems, and power systems. The bill states that data centers cannot be developed just anywhere; they are restricted from being built in most zoning districts except for industrial districts. In these industrial zones, a data center can only be established if it meets specific conditional use requirements set by the local municipality. The industrial districts are typically designated for heavy industries like manufacturing, which may involve operations that emit noise, odor, or other effects.