From Dowagiac to Marshall: West Michigan communities want answers about data centers

Data center development has become a contentious issue across West Michigan, with communities in Cass, Calhoun, and Kent counties demanding greater transparency and protective measures from local governments and developers. News Channel 3 highlighted ongoing discussions at various levels, including the state capitol, as residents voice concerns about the speed of development, potential environmental impacts, and insufficient regulatory frameworks. In Dowagiac, Hyperscale Data, Inc., a Las Vegas-based company, announced an agreement to acquire an additional 48.5 acres, more than doubling its footprint in Southwest Michigan. Dowagiac Mayor Patrick M. Bakeman issued an open letter to Hyperscale Data CEO Will Horne, demanding formal development plans within 45 days, emphasizing that no proposals or decisions had been made. The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians of Michigan and Indiana, whose government campus is located in Dowagiac, echoed these demands for transparency. Tribal Council Chairman Matthew Wesaw expressed fears among tribal citizens regarding the size of the expansion, increased energy costs, water usage, and noise, particularly highlighting the potential devastation to aquatic ecosystems from heated water discharge by open cooling systems. Wesaw emphasized the tribe's cultural ethos of sustainability and their contribution to city infrastructure, asserting their stance is not outright opposition but a call for comprehensive information to make informed decisions. Meanwhile, in Marshall, Toronto-based Alterra Development faces similar scrutiny over its plans to build a data center and a natural gas-fired power plant on 270 acres within the Brooks Industrial Park, half of which are wetlands. The project could require up to 1,400 megawatts of power. Marshall resident Regis Klingler voiced concerns that the city's current industrial zoning ordinances are inadequate for a technological development of this scale, citing issues like undefined noise limits, water disposal, and potential problems from power generation. Klingler urged the city to implement a six-month to one-year moratorium to allow officials to educate themselves and enact proper regulations to minimize environmental and community impacts. Mayor Scott Wolfersberger acknowledged the project's uncertainty, stating the city retains the option to reject it. Alterra Development has not responded to requests for comment regarding the project's timeline or feasibility studies.