Two groups are suing a city in northeast Minnesota over a controversial data center proposal.

The Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy and a grassroots group of area residents called "Stop the Hermantown Data Center" filed the lawsuit Wednesday in St. Louis County District Court.

They're challenging the city of Hermantown's environmental review of a proposed massive development called “Project Loon,” and they accuse city officials of a lack of transparency.

The lawsuit alleges the city's review didn't describe the proposal as a data center, and failed to provide details about the project's water and energy use, and potential noise and light pollution. The suit also names Harmony Group LLC, the project’s developer.

“Efforts to keep the proposed Hermantown data center a secret, re

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