Proposed data center in Pine Island will undergo a new environmental review due to settlement

A proposed data center in Pine Island will undergo a new state environmental review as part of a lawsuit settlement.

Announced Wednesday, the settlement dismisses a lawsuit by the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA) against Google and Ryan Companies’ proposed data center in Pine Island.

Under the agreement, the MCEA will dismiss the lawsuit, and Google and Ryan Companies will complete a new Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) and submit it to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).

The MPCA will conduct a broad analysis of how the proposed data center would affect multiple environmental and community concerns, including water and energy impacts, as well as noise and light pollution.

After the study concludes, Google and Ryan Companies have agreed to develop a plan to mitigate those effects, according to the MCEA.

Residents, government agencies, and other Minnesotans will...