New Ypsilanti Township data center resolution requests moratorium on local resources

The Ypsilanti Township Board of Trustees in Michigan has taken legislative action against data centers, unanimously passing a resolution on April 15, 2026, to request a 12-month moratorium on the township's water and sewer resources for data and high-powered computing facilities. This move contrasts with Governor Gretchen Whitmer's stance, who stated at an April 8 forum that data centers are inevitable and should be built in Michigan "smarter, with higher wages, in a way that doesn't abuse natural resources and jacks up energy prices." Township Supervisor Brenda Stumbo voiced strong opposition to data centers, stating, "I don't know anyone that supports data centers...other than Gretchen Whitmer." Resolution 2026-08 criticizes past state tax incentives for fueling an artificial market demand for data centers, pressuring public utilities like the Ypsilanti Community Utilities Authority (YCUA) to commit capacity without sufficient review. It proposes six analyses, including financial, infrastructural, and environmental risks, as requirements for the moratorium's lifting, requesting YCUA to hold off for at least 12 months. Community members largely supported the resolution, though some, like Ann Arbor resident Rebecca Cook, questioned the sufficiency of the proposed timeline, with Trustee Karen Lovejoy Roe suggesting extensions were possible. Residents also raised concerns about noise pollution and the strain on the electricity grid, referencing a proposed computing facility by the University of Michigan, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and DTE. DTE communications employee Ryan Lowry asserted that the company has sufficient capacity and that data centers would draw from the transmission system, not local distribution, thus not impacting residential reliability. However, residents and township officials, including Clerk Debbie Swanson, expressed skepticism regarding DTE's assurances and the overall impact on local residents.