Settlement reached in lawsuit over Pine Island Data Center Project
Google, Ryan Companies, the City of Pine Island and the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy reached a settlement over the proposed Pine Island Data Center Project. The lawsuit will be dropped, but construction cannot begin until the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and Pine Island City Council approve a new environmental review and mitigation plan.
Google and Ryan Companies will conduct a new Environmental Assessment Worksheet for their proposed Pine Island data center under a settlement resolving a lawsuit brought by the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy. The project is the first in Minnesota expected to undergo the new state environmental review process, and a Goodhue County judge previously issued a temporary restraining order halting construction.
The review will examine potential effects on groundwater, surface water, energy use, grid capacity, greenhouse gas emissions, noise, light pollution, wastewater, air quality and other environmental and community concerns. The developers will prepare a mitigation plan, with a proposed 60-day public comment period and public meetings. The project cannot proceed unless the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency determines the review and mitigation plan are adequate and the Pine Island City Council gives final approval.