How easily could a big data center set up in northern Michigan?
Northern Michigan townships are enacting or considering temporary bans on data center development due to concerns over energy use and environmental impact. While the region lacks some key infrastructure, local leaders are preparing for potential future development. Utilities are also considering policies to accommodate large loads from data centers without impacting existing ratepayers.
Several townships in northern Michigan are implementing or proposing moratoriums on data center construction to allow time to study and revise local ordinances. This comes amid growing concerns from residents and officials regarding the significant energy and environmental impacts of hyperscale data centers, particularly those powering artificial intelligence.
The northwestern Lower Peninsula currently has at least three townships—Green Lake, Stronach, and Hayes—that have passed temporary bans, and four others are considering similar measures. For example, the Green Lake Township Board of Trustees issued a one-year moratorium to facilitate the study and potential implementation of changes to local regulations.
Despite the lack of current public proposals for data centers in the area, a preliminary plan for a data center in Kalkaska was previously halted by local opposition. Experts like Sarah Mills, director of the Graham Center for Empowering Communities at the University of Michigan, note that while northern Michigan has fiber optic connections and available land, it lacks the extensive high-voltage transmission lines typically sought by large hyperscale developers.
Local utilities, such as Cherryland Electric Cooperative, are proactively considering policies to manage the potential for large energy loads from future data centers, aiming to ensure that new development costs do not burden existing ratepayers. The article also references ongoing data center projects in other parts of Michigan, including Oracle and OpenAI's facility in Saline Township and Google's project in Van Buren Township, highlighting their diverse approaches to power generation and the broader challenges facing Michigan's energy grid and climate goals.