UPDATE

September 17, 2026.

Press Release

Coalition for Responsible Data Center Development Announces Withdrawal from Lawsuit due to Increasing Litigation costs

Farmington, MN — The Coalition for Responsible Data Center Development (Farmington, MN) has made the difficult decision to halt its lawsuit against the City of Farmington, the Farmington School District, and Tract Land Development of Colorado. The merits of the lawsuit are valid, but the ongoing high costs of litigation are no longer sustainable by the few residents who have personally shouldered the legal costs to

keep the lawsuit alive.

The Coalition’s attorneys believe that the suit has merit, and the courts have already indicated skepticism towards data centers and their efforts to sidestep Minnesota laws. Unfortunately, the Coalition for

Responsible Data Center Development (CRDCD) was not able to sustain the fight financially through numerous and, as the CRDCD believes, aggressive discovery efforts that made legal bills unsustainable.

The CRDCD is not going away. The CRDCD will continue this fight to safeguard quality of life in this community. This has been the objective from the very start, and that commitment will stand moving forward.

“The Coalition for Responsible Data Center Development (CRDCD) has strongly objected against predatory tech billionaires who want to control the use of Minnesota’s resources for their own profit, and

we could see right away that Farmington was ignoring their own residents,” say the members of the CRDCD. “We also knew that the risk would be borne on the residents’ shoulders. Risk to our water,

electricity, air, land, wildlife, and the quietude and enjoyment of living in peaceful neighborhoods.”

CRDCD is concerned about risks to Minnesota’s finances. Subsidizing these mammoth data centers puts health and wellbeing of the entire state at risk as it recklessly ignores this region’s environment and

ecosystems. That knowledge is what has given members of CRDCD the fortitude and persistence to fight against big tech billionaires. Research, real people’s experiences and other organizations joining the opposition in the last 2 ½ years has amplified that this is a regional, state and nationwide problem.

The CRDCD is a small band of citizens who took on big tech for the common good of not only Farmington and Castle Rock residents, but for also the entire region and state. CRDCD has information on their

website about how to financially support the litigation costs that have forced this decision. All donations go to the 501(C)(3) or 501(C)(4) for legal fees, and none for the operations of the coalition. Members,

supporters and neighbors in the area will continue educational outreach, continue to show up at city hall for public comments, continue efforts to lobby and influence the state legislature, and continue to fundraise.

The Coalition for Responsible Data Center Development is extremely grateful for all past contributions and moral support. New and continued financial support is appreciated while the CRDCD continues to fight in other ways against irresponsible data center zoning and development.

More information is available at www.datacenterresponsibility.com

UPDATE

The Coalition for Responsible Data Center Development has been established

The CRDCD is a 501 (c) (4) non profit environmental, advocacy, and lobbyist organization registered in the state of Minnesota.

Donations are not tax deductible.

https://www.datacenterresponsibility.com/

We have also filed a lawsuit challenging the City of Farmington and

their tactics related to zoning and annexation. Castle Rock Township has also filed a lawsuit.

The City of Farmington filed a counter motion to dismiss both lawsuits, but a District Court Judge (on May 28, 2025) rejected their claim and we will continue with the legal fight to preserve the quality of life for everyone in Farmington. See the rulings on our Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1244766996510704

Our legal and legislative challenges are being watched very closely by other communities in Minnesota and elsewhere. We are lobbying hard at the Minnesota State Legislature and with the Governor’s office to ask for laws, policies and procedures that are not yet created to provide guardrails for this new industry coming into our communities. The developers and big tech corporations are lobbying for more tax

breaks and concessions. There needs to be more oversight at the state level to protect the environment, taxpayers, residents and the state budget.

What started as a group of neighbors gathering to work together has grown into an organization that has incurred many costs to register and legally organize to better protect the natural resources, health and overall well-being of our community, our county, and our state.

Any sum of money donation would be greatly appreciated for our continued District Court lawsuit and our overall Farmington rural community lifestyle. Stand with us in donating.

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This fundraiser has been organized for the many families and neighborhoods located next to or near proposed and future data center technology parks. We are a group of residents just like you. We are a citizen-centered community committed to connecting Minnesota local and state leaders, organizations, property owners, residents, working together to mitigate the impact of Data Center installations.

Our mission started when Tract, a data center developer from Colorado, purchased the Fountain Valley Golf Course and the School District property (the former Angus Farm south of 225th Street) in order to build a data center technology park pending the rezoning of the properties. Tract has plans of dividing the properties into 12 parcels and have up to 12 end users. This data center park would be the largest in Minnesota and the 7th largest in the world!! The data center would be right next to long time established neighborhoods. 50’ buildings will be only 250’ from property lines with 80’ buildings right next to the 50’ ones.

The City of Farmington has now voted to re-zone the properties to industrial. They have approved the Final Plat and PUD. But our fight is not over!

We are not against data centers, we need data centers, but they need to be where they make sense! Presently there are no federal or state regulations to protect homeowners. There are no rules or guidelines as to how close a data center can be to homes – maybe your home!

Please help save neighborhoods, help protect property values, the water supply, quality of life.

Many communities around the country next to data centers are dealing with the problems associated with being next to these huge technology parks. Noise is the biggest complaint; it's the low-frequency noise, the constant humming from the buildings that is the most troublesome and unbearable for anyone living near them. It will start with years of construction, which will bring noise, rumblings, dust, construction traffic, and everything else construction brings.

The DNR is concerned about the proposed water use. Tract expects this hyperscaler to use 2.5 million gallons per day during the warmer months.

We are raising funds for legal expenses. Help us protect homes and families, help us protect you and your family. You could be next. Don't let the Farmington City Council or any other council rezone property whenever and wherever they want.

Please help with your dollars and your voices! Email your local, regional, and state leaders, write letters, spread the word!

Thanks so much for your consideration and help!!!!

Coalition for Responsible Data Center Development

EIN: 33-2096723