Data centers: Hot topic for Michigan gubernatorial candidates
Republican gubernatorial candidates in Michigan, Perry Johnson and John James, are making data center development a key campaign issue, calling for pauses and restrictions on projects due to concerns over electricity costs, local control, and environmental impact. Penn Township in Cass County has already enacted a one-year moratorium on data center development.
With Michigan's August 4th primary approaching, Republican gubernatorial candidates Perry Johnson and John James are focusing their campaigns on the contentious issue of data center development. Perry Johnson, campaigning in Cass County, is calling for an immediate pause on data center construction across the state to allow for a comprehensive study into their potential impacts, including the risk of increasing customers' electric bills. He questioned the logic of incentivizing data center construction in a state with a cold climate and extensive coastline.
Fellow Republican candidate John James also advocates for restrictions on data centers, stating that no new projects should proceed until protections for utility customers, local communities, and natural resources are firmly in place. James specifically pledges to repeal PA 233 as governor, aiming to restore local control, prevent utility bill hikes, and safeguard air and water quality from pollution, including noise. He also seeks to ensure data centers are built on blighted or brownfield sites rather than productive farmland.
The debate has resonated deeply in local communities, with Penn Township in Cass County having already approved a one-year moratorium on data center development two months prior. Both candidates are campaigning for stronger data center regulations, highlighting the issue as a significant topic for Michigan voters.