Project Skyway (Google data center, Pine Island)
Also called: Project Skyway
Ryan Companies plans a Google data center campus of about 3 million square feet on 482 acres in Pine Island, with over $700 million in first investment. It could use up to 55.5 million gallons of water a year, about 50% more than the city uses now. A judge paused construction in May 2026 during a lawsuit over the environmental review, and the Attorney General says the power deal may raise costs for other Xcel customers.
Where things stand: City approved a permit in January 2026, but a judge ordered a pause on all construction in May 2026 while a lawsuit over the environmental review goes on.
🕒 Latest update (Oct 1, 2026): Attorney General Keith Ellison told the state utility commission that Xcel's deal with Google may leave other customers paying extra costs.
What we know
- 📍 WhereNear Highway 52, Pine Island, Goodhue County
- 🏢 CompanyRyan Companies
- 👤 Built forGoogle
- 🌳 Size482 acres
- 🔌 Where the power comes fromXcel Energy. Google and Xcel plan about 1,400 MW of wind, 200 MW of solar and 300 MW of batteries. Xcel says Google will pay all costs of its new service.
- 💧 WaterCity of Pine Island
- ❄️ CoolingAir cooling (per the environmental review)
- 💵 Cost$700 million
- 💸 Tax breaksPine Island City Council approved business subsidies and property tax breaks (abatements).
❓ Still unanswered
Nobody has answered these in public yet. Can you help find out?
- When will the court decide whether the environmental review was good enough? 🙋 I'll find out
- How large are the tax breaks the city approved? 🙋 I'll find out
- Will the utility commission change Xcel's power deal with Google so other customers don't pay extra? 🙋 I'll find out
What happened so far
- Oct 2025Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA) sued the city and Ryan Companies over the environmental review (AUAR).
- Jan 2026City Council approved a conditional use permit.
- Feb 24, 2026Google was named as the user of the data center, and Xcel Energy said it will supply power.
- May 22, 2026Goodhue County Judge Patrick Biren ordered a stop to all construction and site work (temporary restraining order).
- Aug 19, 2026Google held a community event in Pine Island and announced more money for the school district.
- Oct 1, 2026Attorney General Keith Ellison told the state utility commission that Xcel's deal with Google may leave other customers paying extra costs.
Local votes and rules
⚖️ Court case
The Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy sued Pine Island and Ryan Companies over the environmental review for the Google data center. On May 22, 2026 a judge ordered all construction and site work stopped while the case goes on.
An aerial photo of the area.
Where this comes from
- Court pauses development on planned Google data center in Pine Island · KSTP · May 2026
- Judge issues temporary restraining order for Pine Island data center · KTTC · May 26, 2026
- Xcel Energy to power new Google data center in Pine Island · KTTC · Feb 24, 2026
- Legal updates on MCEA's data center cases · Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy · May 15, 2026
- Congressional candidate demands data center moratorium ahead of Google's Pine Island celebration · KTTC · Aug 19, 2026
- Ellison: Google's Pine Island data center could cost Minnesotans millions for electricity · MPR News · Oct 3, 2026
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