Ypsilanti residents hold town hall over proposed data center project
A heated town hall in Ypsilanti Township, Michigan, addressed a proposed $1.25 billion high-performance research computing center, which critics call a data center. Residents expressed strong opposition, citing environmental and national security concerns, while the University of Michigan affirmed its commitment to the project. Another town hall is scheduled for October.
A contentious town hall was held in Ypsilanti Township, Michigan, regarding the University of Michigan's proposed $1.25 billion High-Performance Research Computing Center, which locals refer to as a data center. The project, slated for development on U of M-owned land on Textile Road, is a partnership with Los Alamos National Laboratory and is led by the US Department of Energy. It aims to provide AI and data crunching capabilities for research in areas such as energy, national security, medicine, cybersecurity, and climate.
Residents voiced significant opposition, extending beyond typical concerns about environmental impact and noise to fears that the national defense-related project could make the community a target. During the event, security was heightened with deputies from the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office and a private firm on hand. Critics questioned U of M's environmental commitment, noting that impact studies had not yet been completed. Notably absent from the town hall were members of the U of M Board of Regents or direct administrative representatives to address community questions.
Despite the strong public outcry, with residents explicitly stating, "We don't want this," a project director indicated that U of M remains "committed to this," suggesting the project is moving forward. Another town hall is scheduled for October, and organizers anticipate similar heated discussions.