Data Centers in Woodbury, Minnesota

About Data Centers in Woodbury

Woodbury is home to three data center facilities that support regional computing infrastructure. This hub provides residents, city officials, and stakeholders with comprehensive information about these facilities, their operational status, environmental and utility impacts, and how to participate in city decision-making.

Last updated: September 24, 2026

Facilities Operating in Woodbury

401 Bielenberg Drive

Owner: Woodbury Capital LLC (Ned Abdul / Swervo Development Corp.)

Status: Operating

Operational Capacity: 15 MW

Marketed Expansion: 66 MW (340% growth)

Building Size: 85,000 SF

Land: 19.4 acres

Distance to Homes: 186 feet (Sundown neighborhood)

Tax Assessment (2027): $7.125M

City Tax Contribution: ~$41,000/year

500 Bielenberg Drive (Lot 4)

Owner: Eden Ventures LLC (Ned Abdul / Swervo Development Corp.)

Status: Operating

Operational Capacity: 6 MW (online March 2024)

Marketed Expansion: 34 MW (467% growth)

Building Size: 290,000 SF

Land: ~35 acres (Lot 4)

Distance to Homes: 867 feet (north); 1,125 feet (east)

Tax Assessment (2027): $11.597M

City Tax Contribution: ~$77,000/year

Note: Data center use disclosed February 2024, 7 months after purchase

515 Bielenberg Drive

Owner/Operator: Medtronic Inc. (direct operations)

Status: Operating

Operational Since: 2005 (acquired from St. Paul Travelers)

Purpose: Mission-critical infrastructure (internal ops)

Infrastructure: Tier III 2N redundancy, dual generators

Capacity: Not publicly disclosed

Public Status: Publicly disclosed (business listings, news)

Aerial photograph showing both Bielenberg data center facilities - 401 and 500 - demonstrating their scale and proximity

Aerial Overview: Both Bielenberg data center facilities (401 & 500) - showing scale and proximity. 401 Bielenberg (15 MW operational, 66 MW planned) and 500 Bielenberg (6 MW operational, 34 MW planned) are located on adjacent parcels along Bielenberg Drive, with 401 just 186 feet from residential Sundown neighborhood homes.

Facility Details & Expansions

Aerial view of 401 Bielenberg Drive data center facility showing current infrastructure

401 Bielenberg Drive: Current 15 MW facility with planned 66 MW expansion (340% growth). This 85,000 SF purpose-built data center is 186 feet from residential Sundown neighborhood homes and operates 24/7 with backup generators and cooling systems.

Aerial view of 500 Bielenberg Drive data center facility showing large footprint

500 Bielenberg Drive: Current 6 MW facility with planned 34 MW expansion (467% growth). This 290,000 SF retrofit building (originally office) began data center operations in March 2024. Expansion plans would make it the larger of the two facilities by operational capacity.

Resources by Topic

Noise & Air Quality

Generator and chiller noise levels, air quality studies, and monitoring protocols.

Zoning & Land Use

Zoning classifications, use determinations, and regulatory status of facilities.

Permits & Compliance

Building permits, mechanical permits, environmental permits, and inspections.

Tax Contribution & Revenue

Assessment values, tax capacity analysis, and economic impact on city levy.

Interim Ordinance Study

Coming soon: Woodbury's interim data center ordinance and ongoing comprehensive study.

Eagan & Regional Precedent

Eagan's May 2026 permit denial (same operator, same issues), NDA secrecy pattern across Minnesota cities, and lessons for Woodbury's interim ordinance study.

Water & Sewer Impact

Data center water consumption, groundwater depletion, discharge contaminants, and drought impact analysis.

Energy & Electrical

Power consumption, grid stability risk, utility infrastructure upgrades, and NERC compliance analysis.

For Residents: How to Participate

Report Concerns

Submit Noise Complaint — Document and report excessive noise from data center equipment
Report Code Violation — Contact Woodbury Code Enforcement with concerns about permit compliance
Request Public Records — File a Minnesota Data Practices Act request for permits, permits, zoning determinations

Attend Meetings & Watch Videos

City Council Meetings — Woodbury City Council meets Wednesdays 6 PM; data center interim ordinance study is ongoing
Planning Commission — Review zoning and land-use decisions
Meeting Videos & Minutes — Access past council meeting recordings (2024 forward)
Submit Public Comment — Speak during open forum or submit written comment for the record

Woodbury City Code & Plans

Woodbury Code Chapter 24 (Zoning) — Search for "data center" or "computing facility" use classifications
Comprehensive Plan — Long-range land-use policy and vision
Interim Data Center Ordinance — Study authorization and moratorium terms (effective Sept 23, 2026)
Economic Development Policy — Data center incentive or prioritization statements

Regional & State Resources

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) — Air permits, stormwater, waste registrations
Metropolitan Council — Water supply planning, stormwater abatement, waste discharge permitting
Minnesota DEED — Data center tax incentives and refund programs
Loudoun County, Virginia — Model jurisdiction with data center hub and comprehensive resources

Key Findings & Questions for City Council

Regulatory Gap: Neither 401 nor 500 Bielenberg appears to have a formal data center use classification on file with the Planning Department. Facilities operate under outdated "office" permits despite 15 MW + 6 MW operational capacity.

Expansion Risk: Combined marketed capacity is 100 MW (66 MW + 34 MW). No permits or public hearings are currently required for expansion under existing zoning code.

Transparency Gap: 500 Bielenberg data center use was not disclosed at July 2023 purchase ($17.5M) and only discovered 7 months later during an unrelated subdivision review.

Questions for Council:

What is the formally permitted nameplate capacity (MW) at 401 Bielenberg under current permits?
What is the formally permitted nameplate capacity (MW) at 500 Bielenberg under current permits?
Does each facility have a data center use determination on file under Woodbury Code?
If data center is not defined as a permitted use, under what use category are these facilities operating?
What permits are required for expansion from 15 MW to 66 MW (401) and 6 MW to 34 MW (500)?