Portland, Ore. – June 25, 2025 – The Green Building Initiative (GBI) applauds the state of Minnesota for the extension of its Data Center Program and inclusion of environmental and energy regulatory requirements, effective June 30, 2025. The program continues to encourage data center investment, while implementing environmental requirements to hold data centers accountable to community sustainability priorities. As part of its requirements, the law requires sustainable and resilient design, construction, and operation of these facilities through GBI’s Green Globes certification, among others, within three years of being placed into service.
“Minnesota’s inclusion of environmental requirements in its Data Center Program reflects a smart balance of economic development and community-focused sustainability,” said Vicki Worden, GBI CEO. “Green Globes offers a holistic, rigorous, and supported approach, helping data centers improve resilience, reduce environmental impact, and deliver long-term value to the communities they serve.”
The extension of the sunset on a sales tax refund on enterprise information technology and software purchases from 2042 to 2057. Data centers may pursue Green Globes New Construction for projects with less than 12 consecutive months of utility data or Green Globes for Existing Buildings for buildings with 12 or more months of utility data for compliance.
To date, over 20 million square feet of data centers have been certified or are pursuing Green Globes certification in 17 states and Canada. GBI offers personalized guidance and support throughout the assessment process, multiple compliance pathways for a rigorous, not rigid approach, and matches the data center industry speed to market. In addition to recognition in Minnesota Statute 297.68, Green Globes certification serves as a compliance pathway in several tax abatement policies throughout the United States, including those in Arizona, Washington, Michigan, and Illinois. Green Globes certification also contributes to an improved GRESB score, a global benchmarking system, in increasing demand by stakeholders.
Companies including Aligned Data Centers, Compass Datacenters, CyrusOne, Equinix, PowerHouse, and Vantage Data Centers have achieved Green Globes certification to demonstrate their commitment to and accountability for sustainability. To learn more about GBI’s Green Globes certification for data centers, visit https://thegbi.org/greenglobes/datacenters/ or contact info@thegbi.org.