A judge halts construction on Google's massive Minnesota data center

Small town Minnesota is not where you would expect one of this year's more consequential AI infrastructure fights, but Pine Island previews what happens as hyperscalers run out of easy sites near cheap power and water. The judge's finding that the city and developer had not turned over requested records is the more damning detail than the environmental complaints alone, since it suggests the review process itself may have been gamed. Expect more of these fights as data center site selection moves from remote deserts into towns with functioning local governments and courts.