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Residents split over Project Skyway as public comment period draws dozens
Summary
At a July 21 Pine Island City Council meeting, multiple residents both supported and opposed Project Skyway, citing potential tax revenue and education funding on one side and concerns about noise, water use, and transparency on the other.
Dozens of residents addressed the Pine Island City Council during the public-input period on July 21, delivering sharply contrasting views about Project Skyway, a proposed hyperscale data center.
Doug Sailor, who identified himself as living at 970 Solon Hall Lane, told the council: “We are here because we believe in Pine Island, and we believe in the thought and leadership the city has shown.” He said Project Skyway “will support local businesses and prepare Pine Island to control growth,” and argued the facility would use a closed-loop cooling system that “continues to recycle the same water rather than drawing large amounts in the city.”
Other speakers pressed different concerns. Rob Landers, of Island Heights Court NE, warned council that “no family should be asked to sacrifice their peace, health, or property so Google can expand its infrastructure,” and cited research he said links chronic exposure to low‑frequency industrial noise with sleep disruption and cognitive impacts on children. Reverend David Dirksen referenced a May 22 court ruling favoring Minnesota Center for Environmental Action (MCEA), saying it required the city’s environmental review be fully examined before construction resumes.
Residents also raised process and transparency questions. Aubrey Dirksen pressed staff to publicly repeat an admission of process mistakes; staff replied they “wish[ed] we had started the website earlier” and said they wanted to be “more public.” Susanna Bladzik, a researcher who said she holds a PhD in social psychology, announced she will run an independent August survey of Pine Island sentiment about the data center and will verify responses against Goodhue County public records and share results with council.
The public comments included economic projections from supporters: Beth Anthony said Google had pledged education funding and that the project could bring “a projected $1,100,000,000 worth of Xcel Energy’s benefits to its customers over the next 15 years” and “an opportunity for a $130,000,000 worth of new city property tax revenue.” Speakers on both sides asked council to weigh health, environmental review, economic benefits, and community trust as deliberations continue.
