A data center could be coming to Pine Island, Minnesota.

Information about a potential 482-acre facility, dubbed Project Skyway, was relayed to local citizens during an open house and city council listening forum on October 7.

The data center, if built, would be located on a land parcel bounded by 490th Street to the north, Trunk Highway 52 to the west and south, and 195th Avenue in the east.

The project’s Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) states that the facility would be up to three stories, offering a floor area of around 3 million sq ft (278,710 sqm).

Energy will be provided by utility company Xcel Energy.

Developer Ryan Companies has not yet filed development plans with the city of Pine Island, and the proposed site has not been annexed into city limits.

The company’s website for the project states that “development applications are expected to be submitted by the end of 2025.”

The same website also states that the proposed water usage will be around 152,000 gallons per day, that utility bill increases will not occur “as a result of this development,” and that “infrastructure upgrades for large customers are paid for by the developer.”

There has been some opposition to the facility, with citizens expressing concern about noise pollution, the facility’s environmental impact, and rising costs.

Founded in 1938, Minnesota-based Ryan is a national real estate developer and manager. It is currently pursuing data center projects in Phoenix, Arizona and Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Pine Island is located northwest of Rochester, a city in the south of Minnesota. It is not an island.

Most of Minnesota's data centers are centered around Minneapolis.