Michigan Data Center Projects and Regulations Advance Across Multiple Townships
Data center developments advanced on multiple fronts in Michigan this week, including a major construction milestone and new emergency power procedures for The Barn data center in Saline Township. Pittsfield Township is considering new permanent zoning regulations, while Augusta Township saw a renewed recall effort against board members who approved a data center rezoning that voters later overturned. State-level legislative proposals and a statewide moratorium debate also highlight ongoing activity.
Data center developments saw significant activity across Michigan this week, with key updates in Saline, Pittsfield, and Augusta Townships, alongside new state-level legislative and political discussions.
In Saline Township, The Barn data center campus, developed by Related Digital with Oracle and contractor Walbridge, surpassed one million union craft hours. This milestone coincided with the Michigan Public Service Commission approving updated emergency power procedures for DTE Electric, which include the 1,383-megawatt Saline Township data center among very large customers subject to firm load shedding during grid emergencies. Concurrently, the public comment period closed for a draft wastewater discharge permit for The Barn's on-site treatment plant, with Friends of the Saline River formally opposing it due to concerns about water quality and aquatic habitat.
Pittsfield Township's Board of Trustees will hold a public hearing on September 9 to consider a proposed zoning amendment that would establish permanent data center regulations, defining permissible locations and operating standards. The township's temporary data center moratorium, enacted in 2025, is set to expire in November. Additionally, the board will hear separate zoning language outlining procedures for enacting future zoning moratoriums.
Augusta Township is facing a renewed effort to recall all seven members of its board, following a previous failed attempt. The new petition language, filed by resident Wendy Albers, again focuses on the board's 2025 decision to conditionally rezone 522 acres for a proposed hyperscale data center, a rezoning which voters overwhelmingly overturned on August 4. The Washtenaw County Election Commission will review the new petition language on September 3.
At the state level, State Rep. Reggie Miller, representing Michigan's 31st House District, introduced two bills, HB 6251 and HB 6252, aimed at requiring energy infrastructure, thermal management, and thermal impact assessments for large data center projects. These bills, referred to the House Government Operations Committee, seek to provide communities with more information before making development decisions. Data center development also remains a central issue in Michigan's U.S. Senate race, with Republican nominee Mike Rogers advocating for a one-year statewide moratorium on new data center construction, building on earlier calls for restrictions by Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed.