Protesters Rally Against Data Center Projects in Ypsilanti & Van Buren Townships Over Water, Power & Noise Concerns
Protesters rallied on the Rawsonville Road bridge against proposed data center projects in Ypsilanti and Van Buren townships, Michigan. The projects, by the University of Michigan and Google, are facing opposition due to concerns over water and electricity usage, potential environmental impacts on the Huron River, and noise.
Protesters gathered on the Rawsonville Road bridge over the Huron River on Saturday afternoon to voice their opposition to large computing projects planned for neighboring Ypsilanti and Van Buren townships in Michigan. Concerns raised by the opponents included potential runoff and impacts to the Huron River, as well as significant water and electricity consumption, increased utility costs, and noise pollution from the facilities.
One of the projects, a $1.25 billion research computing center by the University of Michigan in collaboration with Los Alamos National Laboratory, is slated for 144 acres near Textile and Bridge roads in Ypsilanti Township. This facility is expected to house supercomputers dedicated to medical, climate, energy, and national security research, with construction projected to commence in 2027.
Separately, Google's "Project Cannoli" is planned for approximately 282 acres in Van Buren Township. This development could encompass roughly 1.5 million square feet of data center space. While a firm construction start date has not been announced, the Google facility is anticipated to begin drawing power in late 2027.