Walker Orenstein
@walkerorenstein.bsky.social
Reporter for the Star Tribune covering energy. From St. Paul, but a Washington Husky. Email: [email protected]
One data center developer has disavowed NDAs. “If you can’t talk openly about what you’re trying to do, that says bad things,” he said. “It causes people not to trust what’s going on.”
Story w/ @janahollingsworth.bsky.social & Eva Herscowitz: www.startribune.com/ndas-code-na...
Story w/ @janahollingsworth.bsky.social & Eva Herscowitz: www.startribune.com/ndas-code-na...
How Minnesota officials support data center secrecy
Governments are signing non-disclosure agreements and concealing basic information about potential data centers.
www.startribune.com
December 18, 2025 at 2:47 PM
One data center developer has disavowed NDAs. “If you can’t talk openly about what you’re trying to do, that says bad things,” he said. “It causes people not to trust what’s going on.”
Story w/ @janahollingsworth.bsky.social & Eva Herscowitz: www.startribune.com/ndas-code-na...
Story w/ @janahollingsworth.bsky.social & Eva Herscowitz: www.startribune.com/ndas-code-na...
The plan reflects an energy sector changing at breathtaking pace, and the lengths biz, local gov's and utilities will go for a piece of the volatile but lucrative AI boom.
The plan has also been met with mixed feelings in the center of MN's renewable power sector
www.startribune.com/in-minnesota...
The plan has also been met with mixed feelings in the center of MN's renewable power sector
www.startribune.com/in-minnesota...
In Minnesota farm country, a plan for a $4 billion data center takes root with vast wind, solar and battery projects
The plan reflects breathtaking change in the energy sector, but it’s a long way from fruition.
www.startribune.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:18 PM
The plan reflects an energy sector changing at breathtaking pace, and the lengths biz, local gov's and utilities will go for a piece of the volatile but lucrative AI boom.
The plan has also been met with mixed feelings in the center of MN's renewable power sector
www.startribune.com/in-minnesota...
The plan has also been met with mixed feelings in the center of MN's renewable power sector
www.startribune.com/in-minnesota...
With gas it can often be somewhat bland capital projects, here's the short version from Xcel in a couple of screencaps but link for more detailed info. efiling.web.commerce.state.mn.us/documents/%7...
They say they shouldn't have similar capital needs in the next few years after this
They say they shouldn't have similar capital needs in the next few years after this
October 31, 2025 at 8:14 PM
With gas it can often be somewhat bland capital projects, here's the short version from Xcel in a couple of screencaps but link for more detailed info. efiling.web.commerce.state.mn.us/documents/%7...
They say they shouldn't have similar capital needs in the next few years after this
They say they shouldn't have similar capital needs in the next few years after this
Yep, if approved
October 31, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Yep, if approved
These rate increases don't reflect the cost of gas, which is passed to customers directly and varies with the price of the commodity.
October 31, 2025 at 7:38 PM
These rate increases don't reflect the cost of gas, which is passed to customers directly and varies with the price of the commodity.
In February, the Minnesota PUC approved an 8.17% rate hike for Xcel's natural gas customers. That was slightly lower than what Xcel initially had asked for in November 2023.
www.startribune.com/minnesota-ut...
www.startribune.com/minnesota-ut...
Minnesota utility regulators approve 8.17% rate hike for Xcel gas customers
Affected customers have already been paying a temporarily higher rate while the hike was being debated.
www.startribune.com
October 31, 2025 at 7:38 PM
In February, the Minnesota PUC approved an 8.17% rate hike for Xcel's natural gas customers. That was slightly lower than what Xcel initially had asked for in November 2023.
www.startribune.com/minnesota-ut...
www.startribune.com/minnesota-ut...
Not all in GOP oppose the transmission plan, however. Officials representing Indiana, Iowa and Kentucky defended it.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said "more than 7 [gigawatts] of proposed energy generation projects would be stalled by months to even years."
www.startribune.com/attempt-by-n...
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said "more than 7 [gigawatts] of proposed energy generation projects would be stalled by months to even years."
www.startribune.com/attempt-by-n...
Minnesota clashes with North Dakota over power lines
The fight is the latest example of how the switch to clean energy has made basic grid infrastructure a partisan battleground.
www.startribune.com
October 22, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Not all in GOP oppose the transmission plan, however. Officials representing Indiana, Iowa and Kentucky defended it.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said "more than 7 [gigawatts] of proposed energy generation projects would be stalled by months to even years."
www.startribune.com/attempt-by-n...
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said "more than 7 [gigawatts] of proposed energy generation projects would be stalled by months to even years."
www.startribune.com/attempt-by-n...
The fight is another example of how basic grid infrastructure has become more partisan.
As local energy priorities diverge, it’s also straining the cooperation that’s essential for a regional grid that connects 15 states and Canada’s Manitoba province.
www.startribune.com/attempt-by-n...
As local energy priorities diverge, it’s also straining the cooperation that’s essential for a regional grid that connects 15 states and Canada’s Manitoba province.
www.startribune.com/attempt-by-n...
Minnesota clashes with North Dakota over power lines
The fight is the latest example of how the switch to clean energy has made basic grid infrastructure a partisan battleground.
www.startribune.com
October 22, 2025 at 2:11 PM
The fight is another example of how basic grid infrastructure has become more partisan.
As local energy priorities diverge, it’s also straining the cooperation that’s essential for a regional grid that connects 15 states and Canada’s Manitoba province.
www.startribune.com/attempt-by-n...
As local energy priorities diverge, it’s also straining the cooperation that’s essential for a regional grid that connects 15 states and Canada’s Manitoba province.
www.startribune.com/attempt-by-n...
The city of Hermantown won't say Mortenson has proposed a data center but said zoning planned for the land calls for places that house or operate computers, data and transaction processing, along with digital storage.... www.startribune.com/northern-min...
Northern Minnesota mystery project identified as data center
Mystery has been swirling around the project for months amid zoning changes and offers to buy homes.
www.startribune.com
September 23, 2025 at 8:36 PM
The city of Hermantown won't say Mortenson has proposed a data center but said zoning planned for the land calls for places that house or operate computers, data and transaction processing, along with digital storage.... www.startribune.com/northern-min...
At the same time, the average Xcel customer past due on their bill owed $270 in 2019. That figure was nearly double between 2021 and 2024.
www.startribune.com/xcel-is-cutt...
www.startribune.com/xcel-is-cutt...
September 18, 2025 at 5:21 PM
At the same time, the average Xcel customer past due on their bill owed $270 in 2019. That figure was nearly double between 2021 and 2024.
www.startribune.com/xcel-is-cutt...
www.startribune.com/xcel-is-cutt...