by An hour south of the Twin Cities is Pine Island, Minnesota.
Things move more slowly down here, and that’s the way people like it.
But Project Skyway was unveiled to the town in September. A 482-acre data center that caught locals off guard.
“Even though the project started sooner, September has been that tipping point where the community has started to learn about it,” said Aubree Derksen, a resident of Pine Island for six years.
Though the project promises less water usage, noise, and electricity costs, opponents are still skeptical of the transparency with local officials.
“We should’ve been involved in the process from the get-go,” said Derksen. “And it’s not sufficient to just say you need to get the newspaper and just read the city council.”
Derksen took me on a drive through the proposed land area.
She pointed out farms and houses being acquired to make way for the data center.
Likewise, local businesses have Google offering contracts and making large purchases.
“I can’t blame these businesses for taking the money,” said Nicole Mills, Pine Island business owner. “We need to do what we need to survive, but it’s further proof that Google is buying our town.”
And this isn’t just happening in Pine Island. All the way up to Hermantown, communities are sharing the experience.
For some folks, change feels inevitable. But for others, the concern is more than growth; it’s about whether the community gets its voice in shaping it.
“It can feel inevitable. But it’s important to know that’s not the case,” said Luke Norquist, attorney at Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy. “The community advocacy you see in places like Pine Island is really strong.”
In these communities, they’re organizing rallies, going to the city council, contacting legislators, anything to get the message across.
Project Skyway is still in the early stages, but for Pine Island, the conversation is a necessity and far from over.
