Environmentalists push Michigan lawmakers to forge ahead on moratorium and regulations for data centers
Environmental advocacy groups are actively urging Michigan lawmakers to enact a statewide moratorium on data center developments and pass stricter regulations. They held a news conference at the Michigan Capitol to highlight concerns about the environmental and social impacts of data centers and a lack of transparency. Despite bills being introduced in both the House and Senate, legislative movement on these proposals has stalled.
Environmental advocacy groups, including the Sierra Club's Michigan chapter, Clean Water Action, and the Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition, are actively pressing Michigan lawmakers to implement a statewide moratorium and establish comprehensive regulations for data centers. The groups held a news conference on the Michigan Capitol's east steps in Lansing, urging the state Senate, which recently returned to session, to prioritize legislative action on these issues.
Lawmakers in both the House and Senate have introduced bills to halt permitting for new data center projects for a year, aiming to provide local governments time to assess the impact of such facilities. Additionally, a group of Democratic state Senators in June proposed regulations covering water-use permits, protections for utility customers, community benefit requirements, and a ban on non-disclosure agreements for public officials in data center deals. However, these legislative efforts have yet to advance out of their respective committees, with House proposals particularly stalled in a committee often referred to as where bills go to die.
Chris Gilmer-Hill, policy manager for the Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition, highlighted how a lack of strict data center regulation in other states has contributed to pollution in Black and working-class neighborhoods and eroded public trust due to transparency issues. Marta Johnson, legislative and political organizer for Sierra Club Michigan, emphasized the moratorium's critical role in addressing public concerns, while also acknowledging the proposed regulations as a positive initial step. She stressed the need for a moratorium given the uncertainty of the legislature and governor agreeing on a comprehensive regulatory framework.