Pine Island residents have only recently learned that one of the largest data center in Minnesota, “Project Skyway,” is being planned for our small town. This 482 acre proposal is twice the size of US Bank Stadium in a town of less than 4,000 people. Data center development across the board is being done in secrecy, with NDAs and only vague plans that use words like "technology center" instead of "data center" disclosed to the public.

We're not opposed to economic development. We are opposed to being left out of the conversation. City leaders have a legal and civic responsibility to ensure massive projects such as data centers are done in a responsible, transparent, environmentally sustainable, inclusive way with the community.

A small group of us began organizing quickly. We asked city council on 9/16/25 to pause the project and do their due diligence first. We asked them to pause the project until a full Environmental Impact Assessment is done and resident feedback is included. City council ignored us and moved the project forward into zoning. Several cities in Minnesota have active lawsuits for similar concerns regarding data centers.

Those of us opposed to having a data center are raising funds to continue increasing community awareness and advocacy for our town. Individuals have already contributed from their own pockets to get us going and we first want to reimburse them. Existing costs are $625 for yard signs and flyers. The rest of the funds will be aimed at additional efforts and re-orders as needed.

We want to keep our rural small-town charm. We want to be responsible stewards of the land and resources we use. We want sustainable, responsible infrastructure and development, not short-term bubbles that are going to pop. We want to hear birdsong and insects at night, not 24/7 electric humming that drowns out birdsong and keeps us up at night. Help us stop this.