Trump targets data center opposition ahead of Vance's Michigan speech
Donald Trump publicly criticized opposition to data centers in Michigan, emphasizing their economic benefits, just before JD Vance's appearance in the state. This comes amidst strong bipartisan opposition to data center developments in Michigan, with political figures like US Senate candidates Mike Rogers and Abdul El-Sayed calling for moratoriums and stronger regulations due to concerns over community impact, utility prices, and water usage. Hyperscale projects by Oracle, OpenAI, and Google are specifically mentioned as driving these concerns, making data center policy a significant issue in the upcoming elections.
Former President Donald Trump publicly criticized opposition to data centers in a social media post, stating that communities should embrace them for economic prosperity, lower taxes, and job creation. This statement was made on August 31, hours before his former vice president, JD Vance, was scheduled to speak in Michigan, a key battleground state.
The timing of Trump's message is notable, coming nine weeks before the November election and 11 days after former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers, a U.S. Senate candidate in Michigan, called for a one-year moratorium on new data center developments. Rogers expressed concerns about protecting community control, preventing utility price hikes, safeguarding water resources, and stopping "pay-to-play schemes" associated with data center projects. Democratic opponent Abdul El-Sayed has also been a vocal critic, alleging that Rogers has personal investments in the data center boom.
Michigan currently hosts 79 operational data centers, with over a dozen more under construction or in planning, including hyperscale projects for Oracle and OpenAI in Saline Township and Google in Van Buren Township. These larger-scale developments, and the associated tax incentives, have sparked a wave of public opposition across various townships. Michigan Republican Party Chairman Jim Runestad also organized a rally in June advocating for a temporary moratorium.
Both Republican and Democratic political campaigns are using the issue as a talking point. Rogers' spokeswoman, Alyssa Brouillet, cited a Detroit News investigation into a state law shielding data center tax break recipients, while El-Sayed criticized Rogers' investments. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson's campaign also called for a moratorium, stating she would hold data centers accountable.