Township pushes back against data center proposal
The University of Michigan's proposal for a data center in Ypsilanti Township, Washington County, has met with significant opposition from township officials and residents. Concerns include the project's ties to nuclear weapons research and perceived environmental justice issues. The township is actively exploring legal options to challenge the development.
The University of Michigan has announced Ypsilanti Township, Washington County, as the preferred location for a new data center, rather than Ann Arbor. This 144-acre site, situated near Textile Road and Bridge Road southwest of the Willow Run Airport, is intended to house an academic computing center for U-M researchers and students, as well as a federal research center supporting Los Alamos for activities like modeling nuclear stewardship.
Township leaders and residents have expressed strong opposition, stating they were "blindsided" by the announcement and learned of the plans through media. The Ypsilanti Township supervisor indicated the township is pursuing legal strategies, though details were not disclosed. The township attorney voiced fears that the facility's connection to maintaining the nation's nuclear weapons could render the community a target. One resident highlighted concerns about environmental justice, suggesting the site was chosen in an area with a higher proportion of brown and black residents and less generational wealth compared to Ann Arbor.
In response to the backlash, U-M's president released an article reaffirming the university's commitment to "listening to our neighbors, answering their questions, and working with the community to ensure we develop this site responsibly." The article also clarified that the facility would not contain nuclear products on-site and the township would not face imminent danger.