Next step in Pine Island data center lawsuit set for June 18
A Goodhue County District Court hearing is scheduled for June 18 to determine the next steps for Pine Island's proposed data center project, Project Skyway. The Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA) has sued, arguing that the conducted environmental review (AUAR) is insufficient and a more stringent review is needed. The outcome will decide if developer Ryan Companies and the city can proceed with construction plans for the Google data center.
A crucial court hearing is set for June 18 in Goodhue County District Court, Minnesota, to address the proposed Project Skyway, a 482-acre technology park in Pine Island intended for a Google data center. Judge Patrick Biren will preside over the case, which pits the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA) against the city of Pine Island and developer Ryan Companies.
MCEA filed a lawsuit asserting that the alternative urban areawide review (AUAR) conducted for the project last summer was inadequate. The advocacy group argues that a more stringent environmental review, such as an environmental assessment worksheet or an environmental impact statement (EIS), should have been performed, especially given the city and developer's early awareness of Google's involvement.
Conversely, the city and Ryan Companies contend that a deal with Google was not finalized until early 2026, well after the AUAR was completed and accepted. Last month, Judge Biren issued a temporary restraining order, halting any non-reversible construction at the site. The upcoming hearing will determine if this injunction remains, potentially delaying construction until 2027 if the judge sides with MCEA and mandates a more extensive environmental review.
In a related development, the Minnesota Court of Appeals recently ruled in favor of MCEA in a separate case against the city of Faribault. The court found that Faribault lacked sufficient information regarding potential pollution from a proposed data center by Archer Datacenters, requiring a more thorough environmental assessment.