Judge halts Google-backed data center construction in Pine Island, Minnesota
A Goodhue County judge issued a temporary restraining order, pausing construction of a Google-backed data center in Pine Island, Minnesota. This decision has energized opponents, led by the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, who challenged the project's environmental study as inadequate. The ruling allows the lawsuit to proceed, offering opponents hope they can alter or stop the "Project Skyway" development.
A Goodhue County judge has issued a temporary restraining order, halting construction of a Google-backed data center, known as "Project Skyway," in Pine Island, Minnesota. This ruling, delivered by Goodhue District Judge Patrick M. Biren on May 22, 2026, has ignited a renewed sense of hope among opponents who previously felt powerless against the large-scale development.
The lawsuit was filed by the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA), an environmental nonprofit, challenging the project's environmental study as insufficient. MCEA argues that the Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) lacked specific details about the data center, making it impossible to properly assess its environmental impact, particularly concerning its massive electricity and water requirements. Opponents, including Pine Island businesswoman Nicole Mills and Rev. David Derksen, expressed that the injunction provides much-needed leverage against what they perceived as an inevitable project.
MCEA contends that the city and Ryan Companies, the project developer, were aware of Google as the end-user ("Project Skyway") throughout the environmental review process, despite the review claiming no end-user had been identified. This, MCEA argues, indicates an attempt to bypass proper environmental scrutiny. Pine Island City Administrator Elizabeth Howard stated the city is reviewing the decision with legal counsel to determine next steps. Ryan Company estimates potential delays could cost over $5 million.
Project Skyway, proposed on 482 acres, would include at least 100 acres of data center development, potentially requiring up to 2,700 megawatts of electricity. MCEA has also filed similar lawsuits challenging environmental reviews for proposed data centers in Lakeville, Hermantown, Monticello, and Faribault. While celebrating the current reprieve, opponents acknowledge that the work to halt or alter the project is ongoing, potentially extending until the November elections to influence the city council's composition.