Pine Island City Council approves settlement in data center lawsuit
The Pine Island City Council approved a settlement ending a lawsuit over Project Skyway, a proposed Ryan Companies technology park intended to host a Google data center. The settlement requires additional environmental review by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, including review of backup power generation, likely delaying construction until 2028.
The Pine Island City Council voted 4-0 to settle litigation brought by the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy against the city and Ryan Companies over Project Skyway, a proposed technology park and Google data center. The settlement keeps the existing environmental review in place but requires the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to conduct a supplemental assessment, with public meetings and comment periods before the city considers a mitigation plan.
A central issue is the facility's planned backup generators. Ryan Companies and Google agreed that the final design will include no more than 50 megawatts of on-site generation. Ryan Companies senior vice president Peter Fitzgerald called the settlement a clear path forward, while MCEA CEO Kathryn Hoffman said it would provide greater transparency and public oversight. The additional review is expected to take six to nine months and could push construction to 2028.