Proposed data center in Clinton Township officially rejected
The Clinton Township Board of Supervisors officially rejected a 700-acre, $6 billion data center project proposed by Linde Corporation. The decision followed six months of meetings and a recommendation from the planning commission to deny the application, citing missing details and a failure to meet Subdivision and Land Ordinance (SALDO) requirements. The board also adopted a SALDO amendment with new requirements for data centers regarding noise, light, and water.
The Clinton Township Board of Supervisors officially rejected a 700-acre data center project proposed by Linde Corporation on Wednesday, September 9, following six months of community meetings and review. The proposed $6 billion development, planned to house 20 data center buildings and use an estimated 40,000 gallons of water daily for sewer, faced significant scrutiny.
Prior to the supervisors' meeting, the planning commission recommended denying the application, citing a lack of details regarding erosion and sediment control, as well as an auxiliary water building. Linde Corp. had requested an extension for project consideration, but Interim Supervisor Ken Coles moved to deny it, which passed.
During the public comment period, resident Jim Walker expressed concerns about the longevity of human life based on an article discussing AI risks. The board's decision to reject Linde Corp.'s application was primarily due to the project's failure to meet the preexisting requirements of the Subdivision and Land Ordinance (SALDO). While a new data center-specific SALDO amendment, addressing noise, light, and water regulations, was also voted on and finalized by the board, it did not apply to this specific project as it was passed after the application was accepted for review. The township's engineer and attorneys confirmed that Linde Corp. had not fulfilled the necessary SALDO requirements, leading to the application's rejection, which was met with applause from attendees.