Google Wants $15M in Tax Breaks to Build a Data Center in Minnesota

The company also projects that it will create 2,300 jobs during the 18–24 month construction window—a far shorter period than the 20 years of tax relief they’re requesting. As Richard Florida writes at CityLab, “companies typically select locations based on factors such as workforce, proximity to markets, and access to qualified suppliers”—and then a request for tax breaks follows. As Xcel shifts away from coal, it has offered to supply Google with dedicated wind energy—an alluring offer, as the company will need to power the 375,000 square foot data center for 24 hours, 365 days a year.

Source: reason.com