Judge Grants Temporary Restraining Order to Halt Construction of Google Data Center in Pine Island
A Goodhue County Judge has issued a temporary restraining order, halting the construction of Google's data center, Project Skyway, in Pine Island, Minnesota. The order stems from a lawsuit filed by the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA) and local residents who are concerned about the project's environmental impact and potential increases in electricity costs. The ruling allows the case to proceed for a thorough environmental review.
A Goodhue County Judge has issued a temporary restraining order, effectively halting construction on Google's "Project Skyway" data center in Pine Island, Minnesota. This decision comes as a result of a lawsuit filed by the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA) against the City of Pine Island and developer Ryan Companies.
The MCEA, along with local residents, has voiced significant opposition to the project since Google announced Pine Island as its future home in February. Concerns center on the potential impact of the large data center on local electric utility costs and environmental issues, particularly regarding water usage. The City of Pine Island had previously granted a conditional use permit for the project in January, with construction slated to begin in July.
The MCEA's lawsuit, one of four filed by the group in Minnesota, seeks to prevent development until a more comprehensive environmental review is completed. In April, the MCEA filed a motion for a temporary restraining order, arguing that beginning construction would render the environmental review challenge moot. The judge granted this motion on Friday, pausing all construction and preconstruction activities.
Additionally, the judge denied a separate motion filed by Ryan Companies and the City of Pine Island, which sought to resolve the lawsuit without a trial. No date has yet been set for the next hearing in the ongoing legal dispute.