Kalamazoo Residents Oppose Potential Data Centers; Area Townships Enact Moratoriums
Residents in Kalamazoo, Michigan, voiced strong opposition to potential data center developments, citing environmental, resource, and safety concerns. This follows Oshtemo and Pavilion townships, and the city of Portage enacting temporary moratoriums. Kalamazoo County is hosting a public panel discussion on data centers to address community questions.
Residents in Kalamazoo expressed significant opposition to potential data center projects during a recent city commission meeting. Their concerns encompassed a range of issues, including protecting children and neighborhood safety, resource utilization, taxpayer burden, environmental impacts, and a demand for increased government transparency, alongside general skepticism about artificial intelligence.
Amidst these discussions, a local marijuana cultivation facility, Harbor Farmz, has put its property on Full Circle Drive up for sale, noting its suitability for a data center. City officials clarified that while the property is zoned M-2 Manufacturing, which allows for small-scale data centers, no specific proposal has been submitted, and any conversion would still require a site plan review.
In response to the growing interest in data center development across Michigan, Oshtemo and Pavilion townships, and the city of Portage have already enacted temporary moratoriums to allow for comprehensive study of data center and battery storage proposals and a review of existing zoning regulations. To further address community concerns and provide information, Kalamazoo County is hosting an educational panel discussion on data centers and battery energy storage systems on June 25 at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, focusing on economic development, health, safety, energy, and water use.