Amid furor over data center secrecy, Michigan developers try a new approach
The Lansing Economic Area Partnership announced a transparent public process to consider a potential data center on 423 acres in Delhi Charter Township near Holt. The proposal, backed by Lighthouse Sustainability, remains contingent on community support and would require township rezoning while a 12-month data center moratorium remains in effect.
The Lansing Economic Area Partnership announced plans to publicly evaluate a possible data center on a 423-acre site in Delhi Charter Township near Holt. LEAP President and CEO Bob Trezise said the announcement represents a process rather than a finalized project, with weekly public meetings and a residential advisory committee intended to determine whether the proposal advances. Local reaction has been mixed, and Delhi Township Manager Tracy Miller said township officials were not previously aware of the plan.
Lighthouse Sustainability is supporting the proposal, which could involve an investment of roughly $10 billion and up to 1 gigawatt of capacity. The project would require the property to be rezoned for industrial use, while the township’s 12-month data center moratorium runs through April. Lighthouse says it would use clean energy, battery storage, minimal-water closed-loop cooling and noise-reduction measures; it is also discussing additional power with Consumers Energy and a rooftop solar and battery program with Resilience Energy.