Post Bulletin reports...

Google’s proposed data center in Pine Island got a vote of confidence from the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, Oct. 6.

The chamber, which represents businesses in Rochester and surrounding communities, said Project Skyway “represents a significant opportunity for Pine Island and the surrounding region through new investment, job growth, infrastructure, education, tax-base growth, and continued economic development.”

Developed by Twin Cities-based Ryan Companies, LLC, the data center project would support more than 700 skilled trades jobs during construction and create roughly 100 permanent jobs once the data center is operational, making Google Pine Island’s second-largest employer.

The project would include $100 million in utility and road infrastructure upgrades/expansion funded by Ryan Companies, a $24 million fund to support Pine Island schools, $3 million in direct funding for the city of Pine Island — in addition to the more than $130 million in new property tax revenue — over the first 28 years of the project, according to a financial agreement passed in February 2026.

An agreement between Xcel Energy and Google would add 1,900 megawatts of new clean-energy resources to the grid, including 1,400 megawatts of wind, 200 megawatts of solar, and 300 megawatts of battery storage.