Walker Orenstein

Google's planned behind the scenes, but the Star Tribune reported how the company ramped up a lobbying blitz at the Legislature last year. Through public records, we showed Google was invited by state officials to talk about the Pine Island data center: startribune.com/state-invited-…

NEW: Google will build a data center in Pine Island, near Rochester. The tech giant will also pay for a significant amount of new wind, solar & battery power. Google has been eyeing the state for at least a year, but had been quiet about its plans: startribune.com/google-announc…

‘It needs to end.’ Some Republicans break from Trump on immigration surge after Minneapolis shooting: startribune.com/it-needs-to-en…

Conservation Alert: Due to extremely cold temperatures, we're asking customers to be energy efficient today. Here are simple steps to conserve energy: xcelener.gy/3NDYJjF

BREAKING: Witnesses say a man was shot by a federal agent in south Minneapolis this morning. startribune.com/ice-raids-minn…

Minnesota Energy Resources Corporation has notified the PUC about a spike in gas prices today. More from Xcel and CenterPoint here, from @_ChloeAJ: startribune.com/extreme-cold-m…

A note from Xcel Energy on the extreme cold right now. Gas costs are passed down to customers and Xcel doesn't make a profit. Here are their tips to conserve heat and save money as gas prices will rise with the weather across the country right now.

@Quentinmoore88 Husky Legend, thank you!!

Thank you Washington.💜

One common factor in many ICE shootings since last summer? Cars: startribune.com/ice-shootings-…

#BREAKING ICE agent who fatally shot woman in Minneapolis is identified startribune.com/ice-agent-who-…

@ChristianCaple I am unwell

Demond Williams Jr.’s official announcement. “I have to do what is best for me and my future.”

An early exit for Gov. Walz presents its own challenges for a GOP hoping to end a losing streak for governor. Now, the GOP will have to articulate that DFLers are just “going to rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic with a different captain.” startribune.com/after-focus-on…

Only Frey will be successful of the DFL executive office third-term attempters: startribune.com/walz-is-the-la…

Minnesota Power says it won't use energy from the Nemadji Trail Energy Center, a setback for the $1 billion gas plant proposed in Superior, Wi. MP said litigation and permitting has gone on too long, and it needs energy quick: startribune.com/northern-minne…

One data center developer has disavowed NDAs. “If you can’t talk openly about what you’re trying to do, that says bad things,” he said. “It causes people not to trust what’s going on.” Story w/ @jhollingsworths @EvaHerscowitz: startribune.com/ndas-code-name…

NEW: We asked every city and county with a known data center proposal if they signed an NDA related to the project. Here's how Minnesota officials use NDAs, code names and shell companies to support data center secrecy: startribune.com/ndas-code-name…

NEW: Among farm fields and tiny towns in SW Minnesota, a power developer is planning a $4b data center that could grow to $10b. The project would be remarkable for its rural location, size and an idea to bundle clean power with a data center. startribune.com/in-minnesota-f…

The plan reflects how Minnesota’s energy sector is changing at a breathtaking pace, and the lengths businesses, local governments and electricity providers will go for a piece of the volatile but lucrative artificial intelligence industry. startribune.com/in-minnesota-f…

.@KormannAlex and I went Up North last week to talk to (+📸) people along Lake Superior for this story about why "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" still resonates so much, especially this time of year: why does it *sound* so much like Lake Superior? startribune.com/50-years-later…