Weekly Data Center Watch: Saline River Discharge Permit Opens for Comment
A public comment period has opened for a wastewater discharge permit for a data center in Saline Township, Michigan, which involves OpenAI and Oracle. Meanwhile, several western Washtenaw County townships have enacted or extended data center moratoriums, and federal lawmakers are advancing bills concerning data center electricity costs. Additionally, a Michigan congressman is seeking a national security review of robotics planned for a Dowagiac data center, and political opposition continues against the Saline Township project, with an upcoming rezoning vote in Augusta Township.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) has opened a public comment period for a draft permit that would allow RD Michigan Property Owner I LLC, a Related Digital entity, to discharge treated domestic wastewater from its OpenAI and Oracle data center under construction in Saline Township, Michigan, into the Saline River. EGLE noted that while the discharge would increase pollutant levels, it would not violate state water-quality standards and is deemed necessary for economic development.
In related local developments, Sylvan Township in western Washtenaw County adopted a 12-month moratorium on data centers and high-energy users, while Dexter Township extended its existing data center moratorium for another 180 days. Lyndon Township also adopted a moratorium on power-generation facilities, though it does not specifically include data centers. The article also highlights federal legislative efforts, with the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously advancing two bills: the Ratepayer Protection Act, aimed at ensuring large electricity users cover their infrastructure costs, and the Protecting Families from AI Data Center Energy Costs Act, which seeks to protect residential and small-business customers from data center-related energy costs.
Separately, U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton, urged the U.S. Department of Commerce to investigate potential national security risks posed by humanoid robots from Shanghai-based AGIBOT, planned for assembly and operation by Omnipresent Robotics and Hyperscale Data at a campus in Dowagiac, Michigan. Additionally, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, voiced opposition to the Related Digital project in Saline Township and supported data center moratoriums until federal protections are established.
Upcoming local decisions include an August 4 vote in Augusta Township, where residents will decide whether to uphold the rezoning of 522 acres for a proposed Thor Equities/Form8tion data center. Public comments on the Saline River discharge permit are due by August 24.