(ABC 6 News) — A settlement has been reached in the Pine Island data center lawsuit case, according to a joint release from the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, Google, and Ryan Companies.
The agreement comes after the MCEA filed the lawsuit, arguing a more thorough environmental review needed to be conducted on the project.
The city of Pine Island held a closed meeting on Wednesday, to discuss what was pending litigation. In that meeting Aubree Derksen, a resident of Pine Island said an attorney speak on behalf of the residents opposed to the data center to ensure their calls were heard during the closed session.
“Because we had representation we had a seat at the table,” Derksen said. “We were in the room when these conversations were happening and we got to shape what it looked like.”
Back in May, a Goodhue County judge issued a temporary restraining order to prevent construction on the project.
According to the release, as part of the settlement, the proposed data center will be the first in Minnesota to undergo a new state environmental review process.
Under the agreement, MCEA will dismiss the lawsuit, and Google and Ryan Companies will undergo a new Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW). That worksheet will be submitted to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) for review.
The parties have agreed to propose that the MPCA’s study will cover a detailed analysis of how the data center proposal would affect a wide range of environmental and community concerns, including water and energy impacts, noise, and light pollution.
Ryan and Google have also agreed to develop a plan to mitigate those effects, which will be presented to the MPCA and the City of Pine Island.
Pine Island residents, other government agencies, and all Minnesotans will have a chance to review and comment on the new study and mitigation during a proposed extended 60-day comment period.
If the MPCA decides that the EAW and mitigation plan are adequate, they will be returned to the Pine Island City Council, which will then gather final public comments and vote on the proposed mitigation plan.
There can be no construction on project until the MPCA and city approve of the plan.
MCEA CEO Kathryn Hoffman released the following statement on the settlement:
“For too long, AI data center proposals in Minnesota have been shrouded in secrecy. This settlement brings transparency, democracy, and proper oversight back into the process, and provides Pine Island residents with critical information about how this proposal stands to impact their community and our shared natural resources,” said Kathryn Hoffman, CEO of the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA), the plaintiff in the case. “Going forward, we will continue to monitor the process and review the information as it’s released.”
Pine Island resident Aubree Derksen, a member of the Stop the Pine Island Data Center group also released a statement:
“My neighbors and I deserve to have a say in something that could completely transform our community and way of life, but so far we’ve been denied that at every turn of this process,” said Pine Island resident and Stop the Pine Island Data Center member Aubree Derksen. “Today, we take a long overdue first step toward righting that wrong.”
Peter Fitzgerald, the senior vice president of Ryan Companies, released the following statement:
“Ryan Companies is pleased the lawsuit has been settled. Over the last three years, Ryan has built lasting relationships with the Pine Island community to deliver clear community benefits alongside a project that meets and exceeds the state’s highest standards.
“The settlement confirms that previous city approvals remain valid and we welcome the additional review by the MPCA. We believe this is a best-in-class project that has the potential to become the national standard for responsible data center development. In addition to the commitments made to the community and school, the project is investing in Minnesota’s grid with a historic clean energy investment. We are also limiting water use with a closed loop system that protects our water resources. We are now adding enhanced review and municipal protections with this agreement.”
Luke Hellier, the public affairs manager for Google, also released a statement on the settlement:
“Google is pleased to reach a constructive resolution that allows Project Skyway to move forward in Pine Island,” said Luke Hellier, Public Affairs Manager, Google. “The goal has always been to build world-class infrastructure while serving as a responsible neighbor and resource steward. This agreement ensures the project meets robust environmental standards while delivering local economic benefits. Google appreciates the collaborative work with Ryan Companies, the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, and the City of Pine Island to secure a sustainable path forward.”
