Pine Island Data Center Project Moves Forward Amid Local Opposition December 11, 2025 The relentless expansion of the data center industry into new regions faces another critical test in the American Midwest, highlighting the ongoing tension between technological infrastructure demands and community preservation. The Planning Commission in Pine Island, Minnesota, has voted to recommend approval for a proposed large-scale data center development, bringing the project one step closer to realization despite significant resident opposition. The vote, held on Tuesday, endorsed both a preliminary development plan and a plat application for the facility, known as Project Skyway. The project is being developed by national real estate firm Ryan Companies, which submitted its application in October. If fully approved, the data center would be constructed on a substantial 482-acre parcel of land, bounded by 490th Street to the north, Trunk Highway 52 to the west and south, and 195th Avenue to the east. The approval process involves rezoning this land from agricultural to industrial use. Ryan Companies has indicated that the completed facility would be leased to an unnamed Fortune 100 company, though the developer has not disclosed the end-user's identity, citing confidentiality agreements. This lack of transparency has become a point of contention for some residents. The commission's recommendation is not the final hurdle. The Pine Island City Council is scheduled to meet on December 16 for a decisive vote on the project. In anticipation, local opposition has mobilized, organizing through a 'Stop the Pine Island Data Center' Facebook group. Residents have voiced familiar concerns, including the project's potential environmental impact, its effect on the area's rural character, fears of utility price increases, and the procedural issue of non-disclosure agreements limiting public information. Founded in 1938, Ryan Companies is a Minnesota-based developer currently pursuing data center projects in other markets, including Phoenix, Arizona, and Minneapolis. The Pine Island location, situated northwest of Rochester, represents a strategic move beyond the state's primary data center cluster in the Minneapolis area. The situation in Pine Island reflects a broader national trend where local governments and communities are increasingly scrutinizing large data center developments. Some opponents have even called for a temporary moratorium on such projects, a regulatory tool gaining traction as a means for municipalities to manage the pace of incoming applications. The upcoming council vote will serve as a key indicator of whether the promise of economic development and technological investment will outweigh local community and environmental concerns in this region. Source: datacenterdynamics
Minnesota's Pine Island Planning Commission Recommends Approval for Major Data Center Project
