‘Uniquely evil’: Michigan residents fight against huge datacenter backed by top tycoons

A group of powerful politicians and tech tycoons, including Donald Trump, Sam Altman, and Larry Ellison, are pushing for a massive $7 billion data center in rural Michigan, despite strong opposition from local residents. The 1.4 gigawatt center would consume as much power as Detroit and could significantly impact the area's energy bills, groundwater, and rural character. Local officials initially rejected the plans, but the powerful backers fought back and the township board reversed its decision. Residents, led by former U.S. Marine Kate Haushalter and others, are now organizing protests and pressuring state regulators to closely scrutinize the project's potential environmental and economic impacts. The controversy highlights the growing tensions between tech billionaires and local communities across the U.S.