Michigan Attorney General enters testimony in first contested data center case
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has entered testimony in a contested case regarding Google's proposed data center in Van Buren Township, Wayne County, advocating for increased transparency and protection for ratepayers. Nessel is concerned about data centers driving up utility rates and pushing for stricter regulations on energy credits and tax breaks. The Attorney General also sought a similar contested case for an OpenAI project in Saline Township, Washtenaw County, which was denied by the Michigan Public Service Commission.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel's office has submitted testimony in the first contested data center case, focusing on a proposed Google data center in Van Buren Township, Wayne County. Nessel has expressed long-standing concerns that data centers could significantly increase utility bills for Michigan residents.
Her office is advocating for greater scrutiny of data center contracts through contested cases at the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC). While the MPSC denied her request for a contested case regarding an OpenAI data center project in Saline Township, Washtenaw County, Google has allowed a contested case for its project.
Nessel seeks to limit energy credits for companies like Google, require upfront payment for infrastructure costs, implement exit fees, and demand more jobs in exchange for tax breaks. She also urges lawmakers to ban secret contracts and uncontested cases. The MPSC, in response, stated its role as an impartial regulator committed to consumer protection, noting it adopted tough protections against cross-subsidization for DTE Electric Co.'s special contracts related to the Saline Township data center and new tariffs for large-load customers.