The Public is Getting Fed Up With Data Centers. Politicians Need to Take Notice

The Public is Getting Fed Up With Data Centers. Politicians Need to Take Notice

News ClipTech Policy Press·Saline, MI·3/13/2026

The story discusses growing public opposition to the rapid expansion of data centers in the United States. It highlights a proposed $7 billion data center project in Saline, Michigan that faces resistance from local residents who are concerned about the project's potential impact on electricity rates and the water supply. The story also mentions a recent White House meeting where President Trump acknowledged the public relations challenges faced by tech companies building data centers, and discussed a new plan to have companies build or provide their own electricity supply to avoid burdening other ratepayers. Overall, the story suggests that communities are increasingly pushing back against large data center projects, fueled by concerns about the material harms they may bring with few benefits in return.

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Saline, Michigan, December 1, 2025: A sign on a rural Michigan road opposes a planned $7 billion data center on southeast Michigan farm land. Opponents say the data center could raise residential electricity rates and endanger the water supply. (Photo by: Jim West/UCG/Universal Images Group via Gett