Detroit City Council asks mayor to consider data center moratorium

The Detroit City Council, in a 6-2 vote on March 17, approved a resolution requesting Mayor Mary Sheffield to impose a two-year moratorium on new data center permits. The council seeks this pause to conduct further research into the potential environmental and economic impacts of data centers. This move follows a statewide trend, with at least 10 Michigan communities facing proposals for hyperscale data centers, despite Michigan recently passing tax breaks to incentivize developers through 2050. Council Member Scott Benson led the initiative, emphasizing the need for Detroit to establish clear rules and protections for its residents regarding data center development, citing negative experiences in other communities like Ypsilanti and Saline townships. He articulated a desire for the city to be proactive rather than find itself in a "poor position" with corporate citizens who lack proper regulations. Supporters of the resolution also raised concerns about community sentiment, potential environmental damage, and increased electricity costs. However, Council President James Tate Jr. and President Pro Tem Coleman Young II voted against the resolution, primarily due to the proposed two-year length of the moratorium, which Young deemed excessive in the age of rapid information access. John Roach, a spokesperson for Mayor Sheffield's office, confirmed that the mayor is aware of the resolution and will "fully vet the request and make a decision that is in the best interest of Detroiters and the future of our city" upon official receipt.