Cannabis facility in Michigan offered for data center redevelopment
Harbor Farmz in Kalamazoo, Michigan, is offering its cannabis facility for redevelopment into a data center due to the declining cannabis market. The facility already has full zoning approval from the City of Kalamazoo. CEO Michael Ward anticipates positive economic impacts, including job creation, and notes a potential AI data center would use less water and energy than the current farm.
Harbor Farmz, a cannabis company with three locations in Michigan, is seeking to repurpose its Kalamazoo facility into a data center due to the oversaturation of the state's cannabis industry. Founder and CEO Michael Ward cited a significant drop in cannabis prices, from $500 an ounce in 2020 to $58 currently, as a key reason for exploring new ventures, noting the company has over 600,000 pounds of unused outdoor cannabis product.
The Kalamazoo facility has already secured full zoning approval from the City of Kalamazoo for such a redevelopment. Ward emphasized the potential for positive economic impact, including the creation of high-level technology jobs, and stated that an AI data center would actually consume less water and energy than the existing cannabis farm. While acknowledging statewide controversy surrounding data center developments, Ward clarified that the repurposing would not involve stripping the building of its employees or outsourcing the workforce.