Data centers in Sherburne County, Minnesota: 2 projects mapped

Imagery: Esri, Maxar

Elk River's City Council unanimously rejected on July 6, 2026 the zoning change a 33-megawatt data center needed, and the project cannot go ahead without it. Elk River Capital and Swervo Development had proposed converting a vacant 62,000-square-foot former injection molding plant at 19178 Industrial Blvd. NW. The council also told city staff to draft a one-year moratorium on new data center applications; no vote on it has been published.

Weeks of packed hearings centered on noise, backup diesel generators, power, water and the site's closeness to homes, schools and parks, and the planning commission unanimously recommended denial on June 23. "I don't see anyone wanting to have a beer next to a data center cooling system," said Tim Jones, whose Aegir Brewing is next door. The city's electric utility said it had room for the load, and the developer planned a closed-loop cooling system. Mayor John Dietz said future proposals should each be reviewed as "a separate Planned Unit Development."

In Becker, home of Xcel Energy's Sherco coal plant, Amazon suspended its data center in May 2025 on a 350-acre parcel it bought in November 2024. The pause came as the Legislature debated repealing the sales tax exemption on data centers' electricity. "Amazon did tell the city that they are suspending their activities in Minnesota, which includes the property they own in Becker," City Administrator Greg Lerud said later that year.

Every project above is drawn from public records, filings and local reporting. Each row links to what it is based on. Statuses change, so check the source date before you rely on one. Found something wrong? Write to [email protected] and it gets fixed.