Proposed legislation would halt construction of data centers in Michigan until April 2027

As more and more communities throughout Michigan continue to fill their local city halls to express their concerns about the potential development of data centers in their area, some state lawmakers are looking to pump the breaks on the construction of these large-scale, energy-demanding projects. Rep. Jennifer Wortz (R-Quincy) introduced legislation Friday that would halt the construction of data centers in Michigan until April 1, 2027. Wortz's office said House Bills 5594-5596 would create a moratorium that would give local communities "the ability to assess the ramifications of these projects" before moving forward. If signed into law, it would be known as the "Data Center Regulation Act." The proposed act essentially buys residents and local leaders time to decide whether or not they would like a data center in their community, as it would prohibit developers from receiving state or local permits or beginning operations until April 1, 2027. Many municipalities in Michigan have already or are in the process of creating their own moratoriums to stall the development of data centers, including Southwest Michigan communities such as Oshtemo Township and Lowell Township. In recent months, residents in those townships have packed week night commission meetings -- making for a longer-than-usual public comment section. "Many rural communities just feel like they’re being invaded,” Wortz said. “Endless solar panels, wind farms, battery storage facilities, and now data centers are being proposed, often with little to no local input and oversight. Data centers come with a lot of unique questions. Between the land being cleared for development, the demand for energy they will add to the grid, and the tremendous water usage, these projects could cost communities more than they are worth. I grew up on a farm, I own a farm, I’m a conservationist, and I understand the importance of proper land management. We can’t continue to allow our farmground and natural resources to be mindlessly destroyed." However, not all communities have been able to get ahead of development. Wortz pointed to Saline Township -- a rural area south of Ann Arbor -- where a 250-acre data center will soon be built despite public outcry. "Only a few weeks ago, a Michigan judge ruled that the residents of Saline Township were not able to intervene in the construction of a data center in their town,” she said. “Hyperscale data centers are very large. The proposed data center in Saline will occupy 250 acres. A facility that size can only be built where large amounts of land, water, and power are available. The proposed data center in Saline Township would use 1,400 megawatts of electricity. That is equal to the same amount needed to power 1 million homes, or the entire city of Detroit. As technology continues to advance, data centers will be needed, and some townships will decide that it’s right for their people, but we need to give them more time to examine these challenges before plunging headfirst into hyperscale projects.” The legislation is also sponsored by Rep. Joseph Fox (R-Fremont) and Rep. Dylan Wegela (D-Garden City), and was referred to the House Committee on Government Operations for consideration. READ MORE: https://upnorthlive.com/news/local/data-center-halt-stop-construction-michigan-legislation-proposed-house-bills-5594-5596-jennifer-wortz-representative-republican-moratorium-wwmt -------------------------------- For all of your news, weather and sports needs: http://www.upnorthlive.com Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/UpNorthLive Follow us on twitter: @upnorthlive.com Download our app, available for iPhone and Android! #traversecity #localnews #news #video #upnorthlive #michigan