By the Board of Directors of Nobles Cooperative Electric The Board of Directors of Nobles Cooperative Electric would like to share our perspective regarding the proposed Nobles County Powered Data Park being developed by Geronimo Power.
As a member-owned electric cooperative, our responsibility is to focus on what best serves our members and communities over the long term. Every decision we evaluate ultimately comes down to three core principles: reliability, affordability, and the long-term financial strength of the electric system our members depend on every day.
We view this proposed data park as a significant opportunity for our region. Rural communities do not often see projects of this scale, and when they do, it is important to take the time to understand both the potential impacts and the possible benefits. Developments like this can bring construction activity, permanent jobs, and an expanded tax base that helps support schools, townships, emergency services, and county infrastructure. Those are meaningful local considerations that deserve review.
We also recognize that projects of this size can feel complex, especially early in the process, when there may be more questions than answers. At this stage, no construction can begin until detailed engineering, environmental review, permitting, and formal studies are completed. These steps are designed specifically to evaluate land use, water, sound, and overall community impact — concerns we share as a local cooperative serving this area.
This is not a Nobles Cooperative Electric project, but we understand our members want to know how it works and what it could mean for the cooperative and our communities. We believe it is important to carefully evaluate opportunities that could strengthen our cooperative and support the long-term well-being of the members and communities we serve.
The project is being developed by Geronimo Power, and their team has been open to conversation and is organizing tours of existing facilities so decision-makers can see firsthand how similar sites operate and ask questions directly. They encourage residents to stay informed throughout the review process. Like any major project in our area, the proposal can only move forward if it meets all required standards and completes the full public review and approval process.
At its most basic level, a data center is a physical facility that houses computer systems and digital infrastructure. The services we rely on every day — from agriculture and healthcare to education, communications, business operations, and public safety — all depend on secure data facilities somewhere. These systems do not simply exist “in the cloud.” They require real buildings and reliable electricity. Facilities will continue to be built to support growing demand. The question for rural regions like ours is whether we participate in that growth or watch those investments and opportunities move elsewhere.
Southwest Minnesota is uniquely positioned in this discussion. Our region already produces significant amounts of energy and has strong transmission infrastructure in place. While the facility itself would occupy a limited footprint near Reading, the broader energy system already connects many landowners and farm families across the region through existing wind generation and transmission corridors. The economic reach of that infrastructure extends far beyond a single location.
From the cooperative’s standpoint, keeping electric rates stable and affordable for members is always a priority. If constructed, the facility would become one member of the cooperative — no different in governance than any other member we serve — and a large, long-term power user on our system. Large, consistent users increase overall electric sales and generate additional margin that remains here locally at the cooperative. That added financial strength can help reduce pressure on future rate increases while allowing fixed system costs to be spread more evenly across the membership, supporting long-term rate stability for all members.
Decisions of this magnitude deserve transparency, open discussion, and a long-term view of what best supports our members and rural communities. We encourage everyone to ask questions and learn about all aspects of the proposal. With a fuller understanding of the information, many may recognize why this opportunity is worthy of review.
As the review moves forward, public input will remain an important part of the evaluation. We know many people are still learning about the project and forming their opinions, and we encourage anyone with questions or perspectives to share them with local officials so the full voice of the community can be heard.
Our board and staff have spent many hours reviewing the details of this proposal alongside engineers, attorneys, and other experts, and we take that responsibility seriously. From our perspective as the locally elected board responsible for the cooperative’s long-term system health, we believe this proposal represents an opportunity worth careful consideration for the continued strength and stability of both our cooperative and the region we serve.
We encourage anyone with questions about the proposal to contact Nobles Cooperative Electric or Geronimo Power directly to get accurate information and ask questions. Decisions that affect our communities deserve review based on verified facts, and while information is often shared online or on platforms like Facebook, direct conversations help ensure residents have clear and reliable information as the process moves forward.
If you have questions or want to talk it through, please don’t hesitate to reach out — we are always willing to listen and have a conversation.
