Where Michigan governor candidates stand on data centers, the environment

Michigan's upcoming gubernatorial election features a key debate over the state's data center policies, especially following 2024 tax breaks that led to a surge in proposals, including 'The Barn,' a $43 billion project in Saline Township by Oracle and OpenAI. Candidates across party lines generally agree on the need for more accountability from data centers, with discussions focusing on their impacts on land, water, and the electrical grid, and how much control local residents should have over new developments.

Republican candidate James advocates tying state incentives to measurable public benefits like job creation and transparency on resource use. Republican Perry Johnson, who initially did not comment, later released an energy plan opposing taxpayer incentives for data centers and has proposed a one-year moratorium on new data center construction to study potential health impacts, energy costs, and remediation guidelines. Democrat Benson, whose husband previously worked for a partner in the Saline Township project, calls for public hearings and proof from developers that projects will not abuse natural resources. Democrat Swanson seeks to require data center operators to pay for infrastructure upgrades and fund escrow accounts to prevent project abandonment.