Residents voice concerns on Dowagiac data center during state representative's town hall

Michigan State Representative Brad Paquette hosted a town hall in Dowagiac to address a potential data center expansion by Hyperscale Data Inc. Residents voiced significant concerns regarding the project's environmental impact, noise levels, water, and electricity consumption, alongside a general demand for greater transparency. Mayor Patrick Bakeman had previously called on Hyperscale Data to announce its growth plans, and he later posted a response from the company on Facebook. Despite multiple invitations via calls and emails, Hyperscale Data's leadership did not attend the town hall, prompting Representative Paquette to emphasize the need for transparency and responsive corporate behavior, warning that uncooperative companies face stronger community opposition. An assistant professor from Michigan State University, Jean Hardy, also advised long-term planning for responsible and sustainable data center development. Representative Paquette plans further discussions as community opposition to data centers across the state is noted as common.