No data center in Lansing after Deep Green withdraws plans

Deep Green, a United Kingdom-based technology company, has withdrawn its controversial proposal to build a 24-megawatt data center in downtown Lansing, Michigan. The withdrawal occurred hours before the Lansing City Council was set to vote on a crucial zoning adjustment required for the project to proceed. Mayor Andy Schor confirmed that the proposal, including the sale of city property to Deep Green, was pulled from the agenda and would not be reconsidered without restarting the entire zoning process. The proposed $120 million facility, intended to be built on four unused lots on Kalamazoo Street, was a joint venture with the Lansing Board of Water and Light (BWL) and included a 16-megawatt fuel cell plant. While city officials and the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce expressed support, citing economic benefits and clean energy potential, the project faced widespread opposition from community members and grassroots organizations over environmental concerns, particularly regarding the natural gas-powered fuel cell facility's location in a dense downtown area. Deep Green CEO Mark Lee released a brief statement affirming the company's commitment to responsible development in Michigan, despite not publicly disclosing the reasons for the withdrawal. BWL General Manager Dick Peffley and spokesperson Amy Adamy stated that while they believed in the project's benefits, they would now reassess their plans to convert their steam utility system, which had aimed to utilize waste heat from the data center. Lansing City Council Vice President Trini Pehlivanoglu and other council members opposing the project expressed relief, with Councilwoman Deyanira Nevarez-Martinez even proposing an ordinance to prohibit data centers from commercial and downtown commercial districts, stating that a power plant does not belong in downtown Lansing.