Court documents shed light on potential environmental impact of proposed Pine Island data center
Court documents in a lawsuit over the proposed Project Skyway data center in Pine Island indicate it could use more than 200,000 gallons of water per day. The Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy is seeking a more thorough state environmental review, while city officials and developers say the existing review meets state requirements.
Newly released court documents offer details about the proposed Project Skyway data center in Pine Island, including potential water use exceeding 200,000 gallons per day for irrigation and sanitation. Residents David and Aubree Derksen criticized the project’s permitting process and said the documents raised questions about its environmental effects.
The Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy argues that the project’s water demand and a possible new well warrant additional state environmental review. Pine Island officials and Ryan Companies maintain that the review complies with state requirements, while supporters say the lawsuit is delaying the project and potential economic investment. The city scheduled a special meeting on the case, with another court hearing set for Nov. 16.