Markets / Minneapolis
C&W 2026 Americas · Secondary #6 · updated 2026-11-05
Minneapolis-St. Paul / Minnesota
The rules are clear and costs fall on the customer, which is investable. The Minneapolis pause expires Nov 21, so watch whether it is extended.
mixedGrid: Xcel Energy (MISO)
Also #5 in C&W grid-stability ranking [Cushman & Wakefield, 2026 Global Data Center Market Comparison (Americas rankings) (2026-05)]
Power and the queue
- Minnesota PUC approved an Xcel large-load framework for new loads of 100 MW or more, with customer-funded upgrades. [Minnesota PUC: strengthens consumer protections for new very large electricity customers (2026-11-05)]
- Xcel is pursuing large-load tariffs in four states. [Utility Dive: Xcel Energy pursuing large load tariffs in 4 states amid data center growth (2026-11-05)]
Notable projects owners where public
- Google, Pine Island: a reported 780 MW project.uncertain [Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota: the latest on MN data centers (Pine Island, Hermantow (2026-11-05)]
Regulatory posture incentives, moratoria, zoning, water, large-load rules
- Minneapolis: a 6-month data center moratorium through Nov 21, 2026. Downtown projects under 350k sq ft are exempt. [Minneapolis Ordinance 2026-016 (data center moratorium) (2026)]
- The 2025 special-session law (HF 16) created a statewide data center package, including water pre-application review. A 2026 moratorium bill (HF 4888) died. [Moratorium Nation dataset (M. Bommarito, CC BY 4.0), current through Sep 23, 2026 (2026-09-23); NCSL: Which States Are Banning Data Centers? (updated Sep 15, 2026) (2026-09-15)]
Pending legislation and actions 1 items
| Date | Jurisdiction | Item | Status | Impact | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| undated | Woodbury city | A draft interim ordinance was scheduled for City Council consideration at its September 23, 2026 meeting (the date of this research pass), to pause new data centers and expansions, plus other top wateuncertain Proposed; scheduled for a City Council vote on September 23, 2026 (the date of this research pass), with no outcome confirmed in sources reviewed. Duration: As proposed: one year from adoption and publication, or sooner if repealed or superseded by new regulat | pending | medium | [https://woodburynewsnet.org/8014/city-county/woodbury-proposes-data-center-moratorium-ahea] |
In force / enacted 17 items
| Date | Jurisdiction | Item | Status | Impact | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-08 | Plymouth city | Interim ordinance prohibiting the location, establishment, or operation of data centers larger than 50,000 square feet, adopted unanimously by the Plymouth City Council on September 8, 2026, under Min Interim ordinance adopted unanimously, with the size threshold reduced during the meeting from a staff-recommended 75,000 sq ft to 50,000 sq ft. Duration: 12 months from adoption. | in force | high | [https://www.hometownsource.com/sun_sailor/community/plymouth_medicinelake/plymouth-approve] |
| 2026-09-01 | St. Croix County county | St. Croix County data center moratorium ordinance (ordinance number not located in reviewed sources), adopted alongside related zoning-definition amendments for data centers Adopted 12-month moratorium on medium- and large-scale data centers in county-zoned areas. Duration: 12 months | in force | high | [https://www.hudsonstarobserver.com/news/st-croix-county-board-of-supervisors-approves-data] |
| 2026-08-17 | Hastings city | Interim ordinance adopted unanimously by the Hastings City Council on August 17, 2026, following a public hearing, under Minn. Stat. Sec. 462.355; recommended 4-0 by the Planning Commission in July 20 Interim ordinance adopted unanimously without opposition after a public hearing at which only one resident spoke. Duration: Up to one year; city staff indicated they may not need the full year. | in force | high | [https://www.hastingsjournal.news/stories/council-passes-data-center-moratorium-after-publi] |
| 2026-08-05 | Chisago County county | Ordinance No. 2026/0805-___ (draft/agenda records leave the final numeric suffix blank pending formal publication; the county's numbering convention for prior ordinances, e.g. Zoning Ordinance No. 202 County Board voted unanimously (5-0) to adopt an interim zoning moratorium on data centers after a public hearing. Duration: Reported as a 12-month moratorium; no explicit sunset date was stated in the meeting minutes reviewed. | in force | high | [https://citizenportal.ai/articles/9506848/Minnesota/Chisago-County/Chisago-County-enacts-i] |
| 2026-08-03 | Elk River city | Interim ordinance adopted unanimously by the Elk River City Council on August 3, 2026, following a July 6, 2026 unanimous denial of a zoning text amendment that would have allowed data centers as a co Unanimous one-year moratorium adopted August 3, 2026, after the Council denied a zoning amendment for a specific data center proposal and the applicant withdrew its applications. Duration: One year from adoption, but may be rescinded earlier by the Council at | in force | high | [https://www.hometownsource.com/elk_river_star_news/elk-river-adopts-one-year-data-center-m] |
| 2026-08-03 | Minnetrista city | Ordinance No. 509, Authorizing a Study and Imposing a Moratorium on Data Centers, adopted 3-1 by the Minnetrista City Council on August 3, 2026 (Council Member Cathleen Reffkin absent), under Minn. St Ordinance No. 509 adopted 3-1, authorizing a study and imposing a one-year moratorium on data centers. Duration: One year from adoption. | in force | high | [https://mccmeetingspublic.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/mnntrstamn-meet-96c51173ab9c44c18f47] |
| 2026-07-27 | Otsego city | Ordinance 2026-11, an interim ordinance imposing a moratorium and authorizing a study of official controls for data centers, adopted 5-0 by the Otsego City Council on July 27, 2026 under Minn. Stat. S Adopted: the Otsego City Council voted 5-0 on July 27, 2026 to adopt Ordinance 2026-11, imposing a one-year moratorium on data center land uses and directing staff to study official controls and impacts (water, noise, setbacks, lighting, safety) before draftin | in force | high | [Minutes of the City of Otsego Regular City Council Meeting, July 27, 2026 (2026-07-27)] |
| 2026-07-09 | City of Apple Valley city | Ordinance 1158 City Council passed Ordinance 1158, a citywide interim ordinance effective upon passage and publication Duration: Through 2027-07-09 unless the council ends it sooner | in force | high | [City of Apple Valley (2026-07-09)] |
| 2026-07 | North Branch city | City Council action adopting a 'high utility user' application moratorium (5-0); resolution number not reported. Covers sites using 50,000+ gallons of water per day or 25-50 MW: data centers, AI faciluncertain Under discussion/planned as of the article reviewed; not confirmed adopted. Duration: Six months from adoption (late July 2026), so to about late January 2027; staff to study impacts and recommend code changes in the interim. | in force | high | [NB calls off Old Town again (2026-07-31)] |
| 2026-06-26 | Inver Grove Heights city | Ordinance No. 1527, an Interim Ordinance Authorizing a Study and Imposing a Moratorium on Data Centers, adopted by the Inver Grove Heights City Council on 2026-06-26 (3-2) following three readings, un One-year moratorium (Ordinance No. 1527) adopted 2026-06-26 on a 3-2 vote following three readings; amended by Ordinance No. 1532 (2026-09-14, 3-1) to exempt the QLevr LLC Carmen Avenue East data center project from the moratorium after litigation, while the m | in force | high | [City of Inver Grove Heights, Dakota County, Minnesota, Ordinance No. 1532 (2026-09-16)] |
| 2026-05-19 | Wright County county | Interim Ordinance No. 26-2, 'Resolution Adopting an Interim Zoning Ordinance Instituting an Emergency Moratorium on Data Centers,' adopted by the Wright County Board of Commissioners May 19, 2026 unde County staff and Planning Commission directed to study data centers and propose amendments to the County's official controls Duration: One year from the effective date, unless earlier terminated by the County Board | in force | high | [Wright County Interim Ordinance No. 26-2 (recorded copy, Wright County Recorder Document # (2026-05-19)] |
| 2026-05-14 | City of Elko New Market city | Interim Ordinance 345 and Summary Ordinance 346, adopted under Minn. Stat. Sec. 462.355, subd. 4 City Council voted 4-0 to adopt Interim Ordinance 345 and Summary Ordinance 346, immediately prohibiting data centers citywide Duration: Until new official controls are adopted, or 2027-05-13, whichever occurs first | in force | high | [Ordinance No. 345 - An Interim Ordinance Prohibiting the Location, Establishment, and Oper (2026-05-14)] |
| 2026-04-30 | Lonsdale city | Interim Ordinance No. 2026-342, restricting the location, establishment, or construction of data centers, adopted 5-0 by the Lonsdale City Council on April 30, 2026 (motion by James Vosejpka, secondeduncertain One-year interim ordinance passed restricting data center location, establishment, or construction, on the city attorney's recommendation, without a public hearing (though the mayor opened the floor for comment; no one spoke). Duration: One year. | in force | high | [https://www.southernminn.com/lonsdale_area_news_review/news/lonsdale-passes-1-year-morator] |
| 2026-04-21 | Rosemount city | Ordinance No. 2026-03, 'An Interim Ordinance Authorizing a Study and Imposing a Moratorium on Data Centers,' adopted by the Rosemount City Council April 21, 2026 under Minn. Stat. Sec. 462.355, subd. City staff, consultants, and Planning Commission directed to study data centers and recommend possible zoning amendments Duration: One year from effective date, unless repealed earlier or terminated by adoption of a permanent zoning amendment addressing data c | in force | high | [City of Rosemount, Minnesota, Ordinance No. 2026-03 (2026-04-21)] |
| 2026-02-17 | Eagan city | Ordinance No. 643, 2nd Series, adding Eagan City Code Section 12.09, "Interim Use: Data Center Regulations Study," under Minn. Stat. Sec. 462.355, subd. 4. Public hearing and adoption both occurred Fe Pending study and possible permanent regulations Duration: One year; expires 2027-02-17 unless ended sooner | in force | high | [Ordinance No. 643, 2nd Series (2026-02-17)] |
| 2025-06-14 | Minnesota state | 2025 1st Special Session HF 16 / Chapter 12 Created a statewide data-center regulatory package. Key provisions include water preapplication review for data centers proposing more than 100,000,000 gallons per year of consumptive use, permit conditions for large water appropriation projects, utility tarif | enacted | high | [Minnesota Session Laws 2025, 1st Special Session, Chapter 12] |
| 2026-11-05 | Xcel Energy (MN) utility | PUC-approved large-load framework (100 MW+)uncertain Customer-funded upgrades and ratepayer protections. | enacted | medium | [Minnesota PUC: strengthens consumer protections for new very large electricity customers (2026-11-05)] |
Pricing & supply snapshot directional
MW Desk estimate / directional range, Q4 2026
Asking-rate bands below are MW Desk directional estimates in USD per kW-month. They are rounded ranges, not quoted rates, and they go stale quickly.
- Retail colo (roughly 0–250 kW): $155–370/kW-mo
- Wholesale (roughly 250 kW–4 MW): $125–210/kW-mo
- Large / hyperscale blocks (roughly 4 MW+): $105–190/kW-mo
- Vacancy band: low-to-mid teens (soft relative to primary markets)
- Commissioned inventory (directional): ~55–145 MW
- Available power (directional): ~0–20 MW
- Under construction: ~0–30 MW
- Planned pipeline: ~0.6–0.9 GW
- Absorption: modest positive absorption
- Power / timing: More near-term colo availability than primary AI markets; still confirm substation and transmission timing for large loads.
Indicative only. Ranges are rounded and adjusted directional estimates, not quoted asking rates or a survey. Confirm with brokers and operators before acting. Source data ages quickly.
TJ field notes
Coming soon: TJ's on-the-ground notes on this market. Expect what the queue really looks like, which sites can actually get power, and what the brokers aren't saying.
Slot reserved for TJ's detailed market report.