Google confirmed as company behind Van Buren Township data center plan

Google has been confirmed as the company behind plans for Project Cannoli, a proposed data center campus in Van Buren Township, Michigan. The site, currently owned by Triple Creek Associates and under agreement with developer Panattoni, has been the subject of discussions at multiple township meetings. The Van Buren Township Planning Commission voted 5-1 on February 11 to approve the site plans for the development, which will now go to the township's Board of Trustees for another vote. DTE Energy has also stated that it is preparing to file contracts with the Michigan Public Service Commission to show that it can "meet Google's energy needs while protecting DTE's existing customers." The agreement includes provisions to ensure Google pays the full cost of serving its load and that DTE's customers will not subsidize data center rates. Google says it will add "clean, around-the-clock power directly to the grid to support the new data center" and introduce a $10 million Energy Impact Fund to drive down monthly bills for Michigan communities. Township officials have stated that the majority of the site is already zoned for light industrial use, which allows for data centers, so no zoning change is needed.