The MPCA’s role in regulating data centers
The MPCA ensures data centers meet strong environmental standards to protect our air, water, and the health of Minnesotans. We monitor and regulate pollution from data centers through our environmental review process and air, water, and stormwater permitting programs.
Our role in regulating data centers is focused on environmental protection. We do not decide whether a project is built.
As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, transparency, certainty, and customer service, we are improving the way we track and administer permits, including those for data centers. Learn about the MPCA’s role in regulating data centers below.
Environmental review
Proposed data centers may go through environmental review before the MPCA issues required permits. We use environmental reviews to help other public agencies make informed permitting decisions while ensuring the public can provide input on the environmental parameters of proposed projects.
The environmental review process includes two primary steps. An environmental assessment worksheet (EAW) provides a basic overview of a project’s potential for environmental impacts. After an EAW, an environmental impact statement (EIS) may be conducted to gather more detailed information about potential environmental impacts including alternatives to the project and specific methods for reducing adverse environmental effects.
Permitting
After the environmental review process, data centers may be required to apply for air, water, or stormwater permits with the MPCA depending on the scope of their project. We review and approve permits for air pollution from emergency backup generators used to power data centers, cooling water and wastewater discharges, and on-site fuel storage systems at these facilities.
MPCA permits include enforceable limits on the amount of pollution that data centers create and specific monitoring and reporting requirements to ensure these facilities operate safely.
Improving our permitting processes
As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, transparency, certainty, and customer service, we are improving the way we track and administer permits. These improvements include an online permit tracker where regulated parties and the public can track the status of permit applications under review and coordinated project plans that clearly define the permits necessary for specific projects proposed in the state of Minnesota.
Other resources
The MPCA coordinates with other state agencies including the Departments of Employment and Economic Development, Commerce, Revenue, Labor and Industry, Natural Resources, the Environmental Quality Board, and the Public Utilities Commission to ensure that data centers in Minnesota receive thorough reviews prior to construction.