Ypsilanti Township passes moratorium on new major electric infrastructure
Ypsilanti Township has enacted a 180-day moratorium on new major electric infrastructure, responding to the University of Michigan's plan to build a high-tech computing center. This project, which involves DTE constructing a large substation, has faced opposition due to its significant power demands. The moratorium is intended to pause construction while concerns are addressed.
Ypsilanti Township's Board of Trustees approved a 180-day moratorium on new major electric infrastructure in response to the University of Michigan's plan to construct a high-tech computing center. The university recently selected a heavily wooded parcel next to the Huron River for the facility, a decision that followed earlier consideration of a site near Willow Run Airport. The project, a collaboration between U-M and Los Alamos, includes the construction of a 110-megawatt DTE substation, an amount of power equivalent to Ypsilanti Township's entire current usage.
Township Supervisor Brenda Stumbo cited the significant power consumption as the reason for the pause in construction, noting the township's year-long opposition to the U-M/Los Alamos project. Residents have displayed protest signs outside the Ypsilanti Township Hall, reflecting ongoing community concerns. The University of Michigan is scheduled to host a town hall meeting on September 9th at the Eagle Crest Marriott in Ypsilanti Township to discuss the project further.