Data center campus · Becker, near Xcel Energy's Sherco plant, Sherburne County, Minnesota
Microsoft Becker Data Center site
Site zoned or marketed
as of Feb. 12, 2024
Microsoft bought about 295 acres near Xcel Energy's Sherco plant in Becker in Feb. 2024 for a future data center but has not released plans.
PowerNot statedNot reported in the records found
Site295acres
Who is behind it
ProjectMicrosoft Becker Data Center site
Developer and teamMicrosoft
End userMicrosoft
The record, newest first
Microsoft closed on about 295 acres from United Power and Land Co., an Xcel affiliate, for about $17.7 million; Xcel confirmed the sale and said the land would host a data center. (DatacenterDynamics, Feb. 15, 2024; KNSI, Feb. 19, 2024; MPR News, Feb. 21, 2024)
Conflicts and open questions
- Acreage given as 295 (MPR, citing state revenue data; KNSI) or close to 300 (DCD).
- Google had earlier dropped a data center planned on Xcel land near Sherco: DCD says Xcel announced the end in Dec. 2022; MPR says 2023.
- Utility for the campus not confirmed. Coordinates approximate. No newer public record of plans was found.
The full record
- Status note
- Microsoft bought the land for a data center in Feb. 2024 but has released no plans; no city filing was found.
- Evidence
- News reports; primary records not yet obtained
- Size class
- 50 MW or more (tracker scope)