Proposed legislation would halt construction of data centers in Michigan until April 2027

Michigan state lawmakers have introduced legislation that would halt the construction of data centers in the state until April 2027. The proposed "Data Center Regulation Act" aims to give local communities time to assess the ramifications of these energy-intensive projects, which have faced growing public concern over their environmental impact and demands on resources like land and water. The moratorium would prohibit developers from receiving state or local permits or beginning operations until the specified date. Some municipalities have already implemented their own temporary bans on data center development, while others have faced challenges in preventing projects from moving forward despite community opposition.