Michigan environmentalists push for statewide data center moratorium, regulations as bills stall
Environmental groups are urging Michigan lawmakers to enact a statewide data center moratorium and new regulations, but proposed bills are stalled. Advocates are concerned about environmental impact, transparency, and community well-being due to data center developments, including a specific computing center project in Ypsilanti Township.
Environmental advocates, including the Sierra Club's Michigan chapter, Clean Water Action, and the Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition, are pressuring state lawmakers to implement a statewide moratorium on data center developments and establish stricter regulations. During a news conference at the Michigan Capitol, groups highlighted concerns about community impact, environmental pollution, and a lack of transparency, particularly through non-disclosure agreements in data center deals.
Both the Michigan House and Senate have seen the introduction of bills proposing a one-year pause on new data center permits, intended to give local governments time to assess potential impacts. Additionally, Democratic state Senators have put forth a package of regulations, which includes requirements for water-use permits, protections for utility customers, community benefit clauses, and a ban on public officials entering into NDAs for data center projects.
However, these legislative efforts have stalled, with bills not progressing through the Senate Energy and Environment Committee or the House Government Operations Committee. Chris Gilmer-Hill of the Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition linked lax regulation in other states to pollution in vulnerable communities and noted how secret data center deals have eroded public trust. Marta Johnson of Sierra Club Michigan emphasized the necessity of a moratorium as a crucial initial step, even while supporting the proposed regulations as a good starting point for addressing Michiganders' concerns.