Locals to U-M: Your $1.2B supercomputer not welcome here

Ypsilanti Township, Michigan, is engaged in a significant dispute with the University of Michigan (U-M) over a proposed $1.2 billion supercomputer center. The facility, intended for nuclear weapons research in collaboration with Los Alamos National Laboratory, faces strong opposition from the community. The Ypsilanti Township Board of Trustees has scheduled a special meeting to vote on a resolution expressing "strong opposition" to placing such a facility within its jurisdiction. Local officials and residents are concerned that the center's involvement in nuclear weapons work could make it a target for hostile actors and raise environmental justice issues, particularly given its proposed location in a lower-income area of eastern Washtenaw County. U-M spokesperson Paul Corliss stated that the center would not involve storing or handling nuclear materials and expressed disappointment over the township's potential change in stance. The project, which received a $100 million state grant, aims to open by 2030, promising economic benefits such as high-paying jobs. However, township officials criticize U-M for pursuing the project without local input. Being a public institution, U-M is exempt from local zoning laws. The university recently finalized the purchase of 124 acres for a potential site, a move criticized by Township Attorney Doug Winters for its lack of communication with the township. The site selection process is ongoing.