Van Buren Township Approves Google Data Center; Other Communities Move To Slow Similar Projects
Van Buren Township approved Google's 282-acre data center campus near I-94 and Haggerty Road despite months of resident opposition over noise, dust, traffic, property damage and environmental impacts. Construction is underway, while other communities consider moratoriums and new regulations for future data center proposals.
The Van Buren Township Planning Commission approved Google's large data center campus near I-94 and Haggerty Road after hours of discussion and months of community pushback. The project spans roughly 282 acres, and construction has already begun, including work that is causing temporary road closures and traffic changes near the I-94 service drive and Haggerty Road.
Residents raised concerns about continuous noise, dust, property damage, environmental effects and the campus's resource use, while township officials and developer representatives said the project would bring jobs, development activity and significant tax revenue. Adam Kramer, president of the data center company involved in the project, said the plans were revised in response to community feedback. Final project stages are expected in March 2027, and other municipalities are considering moratoriums and new regulations before approving similar facilities.