Pine Island residents found out about “Project Skyway” a few days before the final AUAR was approved in September 2025. 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 and ignored when we show up. City leaders have an ethical, 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 Statement 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 the project and way it’s been done have raised funds for yard signs, banners, a website, t-shirts, printing costs, stickers etc. The situation and needs are continuously evolving.

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.