Data centers in Michigan

"This permit itself is just one piece of the puzzle that focuses on their sanitary wastewater"

"I'm very concerned about downstream effects. The impoundment about six miles downstream here in Saline City is where nutrients and bacteria will settle and will accumulate"

"This will be led by the locals and not by Lansing"

While Lawrence supports a full moratorium on data center construction, Barrett has said that he doesn’t think the federal government should be involved.

"Crews are behind our homes from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m, six to seven days a week. Dust has been coming into our homes since August and only getting worse. Children with asthma and people on oxygen can't go in their backyards now. Our houses shake."

"If a data center is coming to Van Buren Township, I personally would want Google."

"We have to acknowledge that part of the fear of these data centers is because the people heading the AI companies are weirdos. They are talking in weird ways. They are talking in doomsday."

Rep. Tom Barrett said the stripping away of local control took place in pursuit of a Green New Deal agenda in Lansing.

Paula Caltrider, identified as a local resident of Mason, linked opposition to data centers with opposition to large solar farms and dangerous battery storage facilities.

Democratic candidate Jocelyn Benson advanced a statewide moratorium on data centers while lawmakers figure out better policy protections

Republican candidate John James said he would support communities' choices to welcome or block a data center without state government involvement

John James stated that when he says no new data centers until there's a plan to protect communities, it must be local control to protect water, prevent pollution, prevent electricity bills from going up, and prioritize blighted and brown fields over productive green farmland

Jocelyn Benson stated she will protect citizens and local communities from data centers and put guardrails in place to protect water from use and abuse and ensure data centers cover the cost of the energy they use

Benson said James had voted four times to block the ability of local communities to have a voice or a say in whether data centers can come to those communities

John James said he supports local control on data centers and that his moratorium is local led not Lansing led

Jocelyn Benson called for a moratorium on any new data center developments until real guardrails are in place to protect local control, protect water, require data centers to shoulder the burden of energy usage, and invest in community benefits agreements

Leah Mills Chapman, Ypsilanti Township resident and community activist, argued the project location represents environmental racism

Steven Ceccio stated the University attempted for six months to reach agreements with multiple entities for the Willow Run site but was unable to do so, influencing the selection of the Textile Road site

University Regent Paul Brown criticized the University's lack of community engagement and said the placement of the facility at Textile Road resembles environmental racism

Paul Brown, U M Regent, said the university has not spent time in the community addressing questions about the data center

Drew Smith, interim vice president of finance at U M, said the university would not make money on the project and would finance it and break even through rental payments

U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D Ann Arbor, released a proposed federal data center Bill of Rights outlining protections for large scale projects

Framework calls for residential electric, gas and water customers to be protected from data center related rate increases for the life of a facility

Recommissioning a retired nuclear reactor requires retraining staff, verifying that maintenance and fuel meet current standards, and restoring the NRC operating license.

Oracle Vice President Beatrice Fullan said more than $150 million annually would come to Saline Township and the surrounding area

Framework calls for data centers to pay infrastructure costs tied to development, including energy generation, transmission and distribution, water, roads and environmental impacts

Stronger opposition to data centers in rural Michigan communities than urban areas

Most elected officials surveyed have hesitations or skepticism about new data center proposals

Jocelyn Benson has proposed a moratorium on new data centers.

James voted for an earlier House version of the Big Beautiful Bill that included a section called the Artificial Intelligence and Information Technology Modernization Initiative, which would have barred state and local jurisdictions from creating laws to regulate data centers.

Winnie Brinks, Democratic leader of the Michigan state Senate, expressed openness on September 28 to considering a moratorium on new data center developments

John James, Republican gubernatorial candidate, received more than $100,000 in campaign donations from donors with data center ties across multiple election cycles dating back to 2018.

Will Lawrence, Democrat running for Michigan's Lansing area Seventh Congressional District, focuses campaign on data centers and affordability

Mike Rogers said in August 2026 he supports a state data center moratorium

Abdul El Sayed released terms of engagement for data centers in January 2026 and supports state and local moratoriums

Abdul El Sayed called for state and local moratoriums on new data center facilities until federal rules require union jobs, prevent utility bill increases, protect water resources and fund power grid investments

Mike Rogers said Michigan should compete for AI related jobs and investment while arguing that data centers should pay for their own electricity so residents would not face higher bills

Joi Harris, DTE Energy president and CEO, said the plan would be $3.5 billion less expensive than the company's previous IRP from 2022

Sierra Club of Michigan said Oracle, building a mega data center in Saline Township, is rated BBB minus, just above junk bonds

Bryan Smigielski, Sierra Club of Michigan, said the planned power plants will likely serve electricity requirements of data centers and called for transparent modeling of future energy needs with and without data centers

Sierra Club of Michigan asked Michigan Public Service Commission to require DTE to model future energy needs with no data centers and compare to future energy needs including data centers

John James, Republican gubernatorial candidate for Michigan, voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act which included tax write offs for infrastructure and equipment investments that data center companies are eligible to claim, totaling approximately $69.78 billion in tax breaks to Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft and Oracle in 2025.

Not on the record: the record holds no bill called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Read from the statement's words: John James voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Checked against the bills and roll calls the record holds.

Kendell Joseph, software engineer and Voters Not Politicians member, said regulating AI requires conversation with engineers, utilities, contractors, developers, business owners, environmental experts, local officials and community members

Marta Johnson, Sierra Club Michigan Chapter legislative organizer, called for a moratorium on new data center projects and said bills are stalled in committee.

Environmental groups including Sierra Club of Michigan and Clean Water Action said regulation is increasingly needed but isn't happening.

Marta Johnson, Sierra Club Michigan Chapter legislative organizer, said the group would like to see lawmakers put a moratorium on data center projects while policymakers figure out how to respond

Rep. Joey Andrews, D St. Joseph, said he is not surprised that local officials have soured on data centers.

John James said he supports a moratorium on new data centers until additional regulations are established and stated his moratorium would require re establishing local control, ensuring no utility rate increases, and protecting water, air, land and noise from pollution.

Stephanie Leiser, director of U M center, quoted on rural communities and data center targeting.

Michigan environmental groups gathered in Lansing to call for a moratorium on new data center projects

Related Companies says Friedrichs received zero commission from the Related Digital data center project and is no longer working on Michigan projects as of March 2026.

State Rep. Joey Andrews said he does not support a moratorium and believes guardrail bills in good shape can be passed to regulate data centers

Environmental advocates expressed concerns about hyperscale data centers' use of water and energy and tech companies' influence over communities

State Rep. Joey Andrews said he opposes a moratorium and prefers guardrail bills, expecting data center regulations to move in the legislature by next year.

Jocelyn Benson's husband, Ryan Friedrichs, earned $370,000 in 2025 as an employee of Related Companies, which is developing the Saline Township data center.

Lawrence's campaign criticized U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett (R Charlotte) for voting in favor of House version of One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which included 10 year moratorium on state governments regulating artificial intelligence models and systems

Not on the record: the record holds no bill called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Read from the statement's words: Tom Barrett voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Checked against the bills and roll calls the record holds.

John James received more than $100,000 in political contributions from donors with data center ties, including members of the Rakolta family who founded Walbridge, the construction company contracted to build the hyperscale data center in Saline.

Erik Norman, director of MSU's Institute of Public Utilities, said data centers are likely to remain part of the technology landscape as demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure grows.

Hyperscale Data is separating bitcoin mining operations in Montana from Michigan AI data center operations.

Jean Hardy, MSU associate professor, said data centers can have environmental impacts but there are ways to reduce those impacts.

Milton Ault stated Bitcoin mining and AI data center development have different capital requirements, operating priorities and value drivers

Company believes separation would improve transparency and position Michigan facility to operate as standalone AI data center

Marta Johnson said the groups want to protect groundwater and surface water and guard against pollution and noise from data center generators

Governor Gretchen Whitmer in July asked data center companies to sign a 10 point pledge on costs, environmental permits and hiring, and called on Legislature to write guardrails into law

Hyperscale Data intends to form Patriot BTC subsidiary to hold cryptocurrency mining operations, Montana data center, Bitcoin miners and related infrastructure

Environmental groups spent Tuesday at Michigan Capitol pressing lawmakers to regulate data centers, expressing concern about facilities' effects on water, air and health of nearby communities

Chris Gilmer Hill said there is a real and growing consensus on data center regulation and more top officials are echoing the grassroots call for a moratorium

Environmental groups met with Michigan lawmakers on Tuesday pressing for data center regulations, citing concerns about water, air, pollution from diesel generators and gas plants, and noise affecting human health

Ellen Link attended the Data Center Lunch and Learn at Michigan State University expressing concern about environmental impacts.

John James said his moratorium is event based, not time based, during a virtual press conference after the Detroit Economic Club event

Will Lawrence, progressive Democrat, opposing data center projects in Michigan's 7th Congressional District

DTE Energy has 2.4 gigawatts of executed agreements with hyperscalers including a 1.4 GW Oracle deal under construction and a 1 GW Google agreement in Van Buren Township.

Data center cooling systems use chemical treatments including acids, disinfectants, biocides, corrosion inhibitors and dispersants, which may be released into wetlands or streams.

Lawrence proposes a national jobs program funded through a tax on AI industry profits to offset job market changes from AI.

Wastewater discharges from data centers may contain pollutants such as copper, nickel and chromium from metal pipe corrosion.

CEO Joi Harris said signing 3 GW of contracts unlocks 8%-plus EPS growth.

William Lawrence, Democratic nominee for Michigan's 7th Congressional District, announced plan to pause data center and advanced AI development and establish a national AI compact.

Lawrence's plan calls for pausing data center development and setting environmental protections around data centers.

Stormwater runoff at data center sites contains particulates harmful to the public and the ecosystem.

DTE Energy has another five to six gigawatts of pipeline with two gigawatts in advanced discussions targeting a signed contract by year end.

Data centers use large amounts of water for cooling, with some drawn from municipal systems, treated wastewater or directly from surface or groundwater.

Lawrence's plan calls for data center construction by union labor, with zoning buffers, environmental standards, an end to tax giveaways, and compensation for communities that do agree to take on a data center project.

Will Lawrence proposed a federal moratorium on data center development and a national AI compact with environmental protections, safety requirements, and a national jobs program funded by AI industry profits tax.

Lawrence proposed a New Deal style national jobs program funded by a tax on AI profits and tech billionaire wealth.

More than 30 Michigan environmental, clean energy and community organizations called for public disclosure of data center sales and use tax exemptions on Sept. 17.

U.S. House candidate Will Lawrence held press conference on artificial intelligence and data centers.

Tom Barrett introduced legislation barring AI from making determinations on medical treatment necessity and ensuring human oversight over autonomous and AI enabled weapon systems.

Lawrence proposed a federal moratorium on the development of advanced AI models themselves.

Tom Barrett voted in favor of the House version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which included a 10 year moratorium on state governments regulating AI models and systems.

Not on the record: the record holds no bill called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Read from the statement's words: Tom Barrett voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Checked against the bills and roll calls the record holds.

Dingell said the project warrants additional scrutiny due to site's environmental history and asked for details on remaining contamination, monitoring, restrictions, permits and cleanup responsibility

Dingell demanded EPA and Michigan EGLE establish current environmental status of Textile Road site and clarify regulatory responsibility

Dingell called for state and federal rules governing large computing facilities including protections for utility customers, public reporting of water and electricity demand, environmental reviews and enforceable community benefit agreements

Jocelyn Benson, Democratic Secretary of State, emphasized importance of local control, as well as establishing guardrails to address concerns about privacy and environmental harms of data centers and artificial intelligence

Dingell questioned promised $300 million contribution from Los Alamos and whether federal money has been appropriated or federally committed

Representatives Kristen McDonald Rivet (D MI) and Don Davis (D NC) held a press conference on data center tax incentives outside the Capitol

John James, Republican U.S. Rep., said both he and Benson emphasized importance of local control and guardrails to address concerns about privacy and environmental harms of data centers and artificial intelligence

Jocelyn Benson, Michigan Secretary of State and Democratic candidate for governor, stated at the Detroit Economic Club on September 16, 2026 that data centers cannot be sited at the expense of privacy, rights, and environment, and pledged to create an online portal for residents to track data center projects.

Gretchen Whitmer has championed the data center and likened Michigan's AI investments to propping up a new version of Michigan's auto industry

Congressman John James stated at the Detroit Economic Club on September 16, 2026 via Zoom that he supports local control over data center decisions, opposes state level bans and mandates, and suggested AI companies proceed carefully regarding surveillance.

John James, a congressman and Republican, supports a moratorium on the construction of new data centers in Michigan

U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell expressed opposition to University of Michigan's proposed data center with Los Alamos National Laboratory at Textile Road site in Ypsilanti Township

Dingell called for University and Los Alamos to disclose details of their agreement and federal funding commitments for a project involving more than one billion dollars

Los Alamos Director Thom Mason said the center would not produce weapons or use or store nuclear materials and some computer modeling could help assess the safety and reliability of the nation's existing nuclear stockpile

Jocelyn Benson, the Democratic nominee for governor and the most likely politician to replace her next year, now supports a moratorium on the construction of new data centers in Michigan

Rep. Dingell opposes building the Los Alamos research computing center at the Textile Road site in Ypsilanti Township

U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell said data centers should not come into communities that do not want them

Rep. Haley Stevens said higher electricity bills should not fall on communities as data centers expand

Residents argued a data center proposal in Lyon Township was too close to schools and too close to the community.

Anti data center activists have been attending City Council meetings

Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall expressed interest in taking up some data center regulations

Marta Johnson, legislative and political organizer for Sierra Club Michigan, said that a moratorium is a critical piece in addressing Michiganders concerns around data centers

Mason will continue gathering public input to craft ordinances and mitigate impacts if a formal proposal moves forward

Chris Gilmer Hill, policy manager for the Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition, noted how a lack of strict regulation on data centers in other states had contributed to pollution in Black and working class neighborhoods

Benson pledged to halt all data center construction until rules require companies to negotiate with local communities, prevent use of tax breaks and water supplies, require union labor, and stop raising electricity bills.

Sierra Club Michigan, Clean Water Action and Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition held press conference on Sept. 9 to push for moratorium and regulations

Mason Mayor Russell Whipple said the city cannot unilaterally prohibit data centers or impose standards that would make them unaffordable

Management does not plan to recommend sale below 750 million dollars

Experts warn of a global surge in PFAS production driven by AI and data centers.

Jocelyn Benson posted video on September 8 calling for statewide data center moratorium.

Majority of Americans oppose data centers and Democratic and Republican candidates are being forced to take a stand.

More than 1,000 activists across the country participated in dozens of rallies and protests in August demanding elected officials dump Big Tech and data center developers.

Rep. James at July primary debate said he would ensure no data centers until a plan to protect people is in place.

Environmental impact studies have not been completed at this point

Steve Ceccio is mechanical engineering professor and data center project lead

Laura Sheets has brought four nuisance complaints against data centers in four states.

Around one third of large law firms now have a team or practice group specializing in data centers.

Michigan Economic Development Corporation will not disclose which companies apply for data center tax incentives, citing confidentiality

University of Michigan stated the computing center remains in the design phase and water needs and noise levels have not been determined

Jason Morris now spends about 70 percent of his time on data center projects, up from 10 percent previously.

Los Alamos officials said no weapons, plutonium or hazardous materials would be produced or stored at the facility

Paul Brown, University Regent, alleged the University's actions resemble environmental racism and that representatives have not conducted themselves appropriately

Thomas Mason, Los Alamos Director, stated nuclear materials would be absent from the site and no plutonium or other nuclear or hazardous materials would be produced, used, or stored

El Sayed calls for state and local moratorium on data centers until conditions are met

U.S. Rep. John James, Republican gubernatorial nominee, called for moratorium on new data centers until plan to protect people is in place, including environmental protections and ensuring electricity bills do not go up

Jean Hardy, Michigan State University Associate Professor with the Department of Media and Information, said a data center proposal to Ionia, if it came, would be many years out and is unlikely

Residents spoke against a proposed University of Michigan data and research center during a town hall meeting

Consumers Energy representatives stated that data centers would not automatically increase electricity rates for nearby residents, as utility rates are subject to state regulatory approval

Environmental Protection Network issued AI data center report detailing Trump administration actions that could increase pollution related health risks

Jean Hardy noted that Ionia has existing water capacity, including infrastructure from the former correctional facility, which could potentially be repurposed for a data center if one came to the area

Chris Kolb, the U of M vice president for Government Relations, said the university is working with the local community

Patricia Hurn, U of M interim vice president for Research and Innovation, spoke about the project

Abdul El Sayed states his conditions for University of Michigan data center: all union labor, no utility rate increases, no water use, revenue investment in reliability, and community benefits agreement

Chris Gilmer Hill, Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition, raises concerns about tax incentives for data centers not being enforced

There is currently no specific data center proposal for Saginaw

Steven Ceccio, U of M Professor of Engineering and project lead, said facility would be about one tenth the size of mega data center in nearby Saline Township and focus on research for clean energy and cancer treatments; project working on cooling facility without drawing water directly from Huron River

Michigan Chamber of Commerce CEO Jim Holcomb opposes moratorium, saying delay would hurt communities and stunt progression

Karen Lovejoy Roe, Ypsilanti Township Board member, said university initially misrepresented project and is disrespecting historically hardscrabble working class community

Sierra Club member Marta Johnson says rapid development of data centers is threat to Michigan communities, ratepayers and natural resources

Attorney General Dana Nessel seeks 90 percent minimum billing demand instead of 80 percent for Google data center contracts

Environmental groups demand moratorium on new data center projects until regulations and environmental safeguards are in place

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jocelyn Benson called for moratorium on data centers, saying no data centers will be built in Michigan unless rules require negotiation with communities, ban them from tax breaks and water use, and require payment for power

Council Secretary Mindy Moore raised concerns about potential strain large data centers could place on Warren's electrical infrastructure after severe storms in July knocked down more than 60 power lines

Jocelyn Benson, Michigan Secretary of State and Democratic gubernatorial nominee, discussed her thoughts on data center development

Warren's current zoning ordinance does not specifically address data centers, which could limit the city's ability to regulate proposed projects

Lenox Township residents are demanding transparency from local leaders about data centers

Steve Ceccio, project lead, said the primary purpose of the Ypsilanti facility would be to continue classified work Los Alamos has already been doing, including research on nuclear weapons

Dylan Spaulding, senior scientist at the Global Security Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, said the amount of classified research the facility could be doing is unusual

Mike Rogers outlined a one year moratorium, arguing that Michigan needs stronger guardrails to protect community control, prevent utility price hikes, protect our water, and stop pay to play schemes

Lawrence said: I signed the AI Pact because Michiganders shouldn't have to pay the price for a technology built to enrich Silicon Valley billionaires and the politicians cashing the checks

Lawrence said: Data center developers have spent nearly $1 million to elect Tom Barrett, and it shows

Rep. Tom Barrett voted for Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which included $83 billion in tax breaks for data centers

Not on the record: the record holds no bill called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Read from the statement's words: Tom Barrett voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Checked against the bills and roll calls the record holds.

William Horne, Hyperscale Data CEO, said the facility is being prepared for AI usage and customer deployment.

President Trump said: If we kill the Golden Goose, you will only have yourselves to blame, regarding data centers

Trump called Gov. Abbott's decision to pause data center development a mistake

The AI Pact requires pledging to support policies that would ban tax breaks, backroom deals, and excessive energy usage for data centers

Lawrence said: Americans have always had a healthy skepticism of concentrated power, and it's time for our elected leaders to step up and hold AI companies and data center developers accountable

Rep. Byron Donalds introduced legislation requiring large AI data centers to generate their own power and water rather than draw from public utilities

Will Lawrence, Democratic candidate for Michigan's 7th Congressional District, signed The AI Pact in August

Barrett received thousands of dollars in campaign donations from Big Tech investors and corporate PACs for Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Oracle

University regent candidate Amir Makled said the University is spending a billion dollars of public funds to build a data center the community doesn't want

Senator Runestad says repealing tax credits and disclosure restrictions would undermine data center development in Michigan

President Trump claimed that China 'could not be happier with this anti data center movement'

Ben Green, assistant professor of information at University of Michigan, said the University is acting like tech companies and overriding community sentiment

President Donald Trump argued on Truth Social that communities rejecting data centers would end up being backwards and poor

CEO William Horne said the transition to AI data center operations will allow focus on the facility's preparation for customer usage

Ann Arbor mayoral nominee Yousef Rabhi spoke in opposition to the Ypsilanti Township data center due to environmental concerns

Andrews said repealing the bill would send a chilling effect on data center development and a bad message to economic developers

EPIC MRA president Bernie Porn described 73% opposition to federal tax incentives as a flashing red sign to policymakers

Rep. Joey Andrews said keeping information from the public was done to protect trade secrets and national security

President Donald Trump argued that communities should embrace data centers and warned that widespread opposition could put the United States at a competitive disadvantage with China

Trump wrote on Truth Social on Aug. 31, 2026: 'The only reason that communities throughout the U.S.A. should not want Data Centers is if they want to end up being backwards and poor.'

Chris Kobus noted that Michigan has perfect conditions for data centers including power infrastructure, cooling infrastructure with water availability, and internet backbone

Chris Kobus, engineering professor at Oakland University, said there has been an explosion of activism against data centers in Michigan this calendar year

Democratic candidate for governor Jocelyn Benson has called for a moratorium and claims to be the only candidate who will hold data centers accountable.

Timothy from Saline Township stated strong opposition to AI in all its forms and called data centers a waste of resources

Rep. Steve Carra stated that hyperscale data centers are an existential threat and may cause the extermination of humanity if not carefully managed

Mike MacDonald from York Township expressed concern about the massive use of rural land and unknown water and electricity draw from data centers

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El Sayed of Ann Arbor has been a vocal critic of data center projects.

Data centers produce very few permanent jobs

Rep. Tom Barrett voted against subsidizing a data facility in Grand Rapids in 2015

Barrett supported One Big Beautiful Bill Act which extended corporate tax benefits for AI companies including Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Meta, and Nvidia

Barrett backed SPEED Act permitting bill that would reduce federal environmental reviews for data centers

The moratoria reflect a demand for predictable, transparent siting standards on energy demand, water use, noise, traffic, and land use compatibility.

Mackinac Center author Jarrett Skorup argued that data center concerns are overblown and that Michigan lawmakers should regulate all companies the same regarding land, water, and energy use

Michigan Democratic Senate hopeful Abdul El Sayed criticized lack of transparency from Big Tech corporations on data center buildout

Representative Tom Barrett, a Michigan Republican, introduced legislation aimed at protecting local authority over data center siting and preventing secrecy pledges.

Only one official, Elaine Ferris, will face a vote in November to remove her from office over data center votes.

Abdul El Sayed stated there is no real regulation of data centers and corporations are so deep in the pockets of politicians who should regulate them

Mike Rogers told NewsNation there is so much concern out there with Michigan citizens and argued we need to address issues before data centers eat away at farmland

Democrat Abdul El Sayed has advocated for strict federal guidelines for data center facilities but has stopped short of calling for a ban

Mike Rogers stated we need to take a pause and make sure we are answering all questions about data centers

When serving in the Michigan House of Representatives, Barrett voted against legislation to give corporate welfare for data center construction and equipment purchases.

Rep. Tom Barrett is leading the No Data Center NDAs Act to prohibit members of Congress from signing non disclosure agreements about data centers

Rep. Tom Barrett is leading the Protecting Local Control of Data Centers Act to prohibit federal agencies from overriding local authority to reject data centers

Ypsilanti Township Supervisor Brenda Stumbo stated the township will determine electrical infrastructure needs for hyperscale data centers, AI computing facilities, and other intensive electrical users during the six month moratorium period

Related Digital committed to keeping Rustic Glen Golf Club open to public play

Rep. Tom Barrett introduced legislation Aug. 20 to bar federal agencies from interfering in local decision making on data center siting and regulation

Republican Mike Rogers backs data center moratorium in Michigan

Will Lawrence called for a federal moratorium on data centers until additional federal regulations can be developed to protect ratepayers and the environment

Democrat William Lawrence has proposed a federal moratorium on data centers to allow time for establishing regulations

House Speaker Mike Johnson said a broad moratorium against data centers is a dangerous prospect because the US is in a race with China on AI

Tom Barrett, Congressman from Charlotte, Michigan, is drafting legislation to prohibit federal agencies from overriding local control for data center zoning

Hackworth stated that threatening violence is not activism, distinguishing it from legitimate democratic disagreement and protest

Councilmember James Hackworth said council members received a legitimate death threat

Marshall officials received credible death threat tied to data center moratorium

Ypsilanti Township officials and residents say they were blindsided by the announcement

Commissioner Wilson identified noise, water usage, and impacts to electric grid as primary city concerns regarding data centers

Regent Paul Brown calls on University of Michigan to pause the Los Alamos supercomputer data center project

Commissioner Alonzo Wilson II said the city wants to ensure it has all information before committing to data center development and is not permanently banning data centers but saying 'not right now'

Brown says the university moved forward without community input, raising concerns about transparency and accountability

Ypsilanti Township Supervisor Brenda Stumbo says residents and officials will continue to fight the project and are optimistic about stopping it given that other communities have stopped data centers

Ypsilanti Township Attorney Doug Winters says township will not negotiate with U M and Los Alamos over the project and their only goal is for them to leave

Unnamed resident claims developers are trying to buy support for a data center that would destroy farmland and community, and that the Lenox board is participating in illegal activities

U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell sent a letter to University of Michigan and Los Alamos National Laboratory leaders on June 24 asking them to answer community concerns by July 10

Brenda Stumbo, Ypsilanti Township Supervisor, stated two previous public meetings on the issue each drew more than 150 people

Jennifer Dukarski, Michigan Press Association general counsel, said the notice on the city's website is more concerning because it is more akin to an official policy rather than good faith communication.

Rita Vogel, former Mason City Council member, expressed concerns that township officials may share concerns of community members opposing data centers.

Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan pledged to mandate closed loop cooling systems for data centers and require tech companies to pay full electricity costs through air tight contracts to protect groundwater and average customers

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson demanded transparency and public input for data center projects

U.S. Rep. John James opposes state tax incentives for data centers and supports local zoning control

Walberg said he’s “supportive of local communities deciding” on whether to approve data centers.