Ellison: Google’s Pine Island data center could cost Minnesotans millions for electricity

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1. 2h ago

   AG Ellison Warns Google Data Center May Cost Minnesotans Billions

   Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison warns that an electricity agreement between Xcel Energy and Google for a massive data center in Pine Island could force everyday ratepayers to cover millions or even billions of dollars in unexpected costs. Ellison filed initial comments with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission arguing that Xcel has failed to prove the power deal serves the public interest or complies with state protections. Google and Xcel dispute the warnings, stating that ratepayers will benefit from the clean energy powering the project.

   Why it matters

   The dispute centers on a proposed hyperscale data center project known as Project Skyway in Pine Island. State law is intended to insulate household and small business utility customers from the heavy electricity expenses driven by data centers. Critics also point to extensive trade secret redactions in the public filings that obscure the true financial impact.

   What is confirmed

   • Attorney General Keith Ellison says that Google's agreement with Xcel Energy to power a data center in Pine Island could leave Xcel's other customers on the hook for extra costs.
   • Google and Xcel deny that ratepayers will shoulder extra costs, maintaining that ratepayers will benefit from cleaner energy powering the data center.
   • Attorney General Keith Ellison's office submitted initial comments to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission arguing that Xcel has not proven the agreement is reasonable or in the public interest.
   • The project in Pine Island is otherwise known as Project Skyway.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Ratepayers could owe billions in the Google data center deal and costs may rise into the billions for Xcel ratepayers who are supposed to be insulated by law.

   What to watch next

   • Decisions or further proceedings by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission regarding the Xcel Energy and Google electricity agreement.
   • Additional public disclosures or removal of trade secret redactions by Xcel Energy regarding project costs.
   Sources used for this update (13)

   1. MPR News — Ellison: Google’s Pine Island data center could cost Minnesotans millions for electricity
   2. Post Bulletin — With six candidates on the Pine Island ballot, the real issue of a data center looms
   3. kttc.com — Minnesota AG office raises concerns over Google’s Pine Island data center
   4. kaaltv.com — Pine Island data center: AG Ellison warns ratepayers could owe billions in Google data center deal
   5. Patch — MN Ratepayers Could Be On The Hook For 'Billions' Over Google Data Center, AG Warns
   6. www.mprnews.org — Pine Island data center raises electricity cost concerns from Attorney General Keith Ellison | MPR News
   7. cashwalklabs.io — Ellison: Google’s Pine Island data center could cost Minnesotans millions for electricity | Global Cash....
   8. www.mprnews.org — Data centers in Minnesota - MPR News
   9. blandinonbroadband.org — Attorney General Ellison’s office raises concerns about ...
   10. www.kimt.com — AG Ellison: Pine Island data center deal could shift billions ...
   11. www.kttc.com — Minnesota AG office raises concerns over Google’s Pine Island ...
   12. www.kaaltv.com — Pine Island data center: AG Ellison warns ratepayers could ...
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