Issues of the Environment: Economic and community benefit part of the Washtenaw County data center debate

WEMU's "Issues of the Environment" program explored the economic and community benefits of data centers in Washtenaw County, Michigan, focusing on the "Barn" project in Saline Township. David Fair interviewed Phil Santer, Chief Operating Officer for Ann Arbor SPARK, an economic development organization tasked with advancing the economy of the Ann Arbor region. Santer characterized the $7 billion hyperscale data center, being built by Related Digital for Oracle and OpenAI, as the largest single investment in Michigan's history. He emphasized its significant economic benefits, including substantial property tax revenue that would support county government services, the Intermediate School District (ISD) for workforce training, and other public investments. Santer framed the project as vital 21st-century infrastructure that aligns with the region's focus on technology-based jobs. Addressing public skepticism, Santer confirmed Related Digital's plan to employ a closed-loop air cooling technology, which they claim will limit daily water consumption to that of a standard office building. He also noted the project's commitment, in agreement with the Michigan Public Service Commission, to fund 100% of its energy needs, suggesting that large users could help spread the fixed costs of grid improvements. While acknowledging that data centers are not major employment drivers post-construction, Santer downplayed concerns about impacts on local agriculture, citing the parcel's limited contribution to overall agricultural land use in Saline Township. The interview concluded with a note on the ongoing community dialogue surrounding the project.