Google has agreed to finance Xcel Energy's addition of 1.4 GW of wind power, 200 MW of solar capacity and 300 MW of battery storage to the regional grid. Under the proposal, Google will cover the costs, including payments for any capacity it does not fully use, and will pay minimum monthly charges based on at least 75 percent of its contracted capacity. The expanded renewable resources will feed the broader grid, supporting the data centre and other customers, while helping Google pursue its goal of operating on carbon‑free energy by 2030. A recent Gallup poll shows 71 percent of Americans oppose building a data centre in their locality.
Minnesota
3 stories since 29 October 2026, newest first
2 November 2026
30 October 2026
President Donald Trump has cancelled scheduled weekend rallies in Salina, Kansas, and Dubuque, Iowa, and will instead address voters through telephone rallies across nearly 20 states in a 72‑hour sprint before the November 3 midterm elections. He remains slated to hold an in‑person rally in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Friday. The move comes after Trump hosted 25 rallies in October and follows a broader Republican effort to maximize voter outreach as Tuesday’s elections will decide whether the party retains narrow control of the Senate and House.
29 October 2026
The Democratic Party now holds 54 seats in the Senate and 228 seats in the House, giving it clear control of both chambers. Voters flipped four Senate seats previously held by Republicans, including a win in Texas that made James Talarico the state's first Democratic senator since 1988 and a victory in South Carolina. In Texas, Gina Hinojosa also became the first Latina governor. The Justice Department deployed about 1,000 monitors to polling places nationwide, citing election integrity as a top priority.