Ypsilanti Township strengthens opposition to data center as U-M confirms land purchase

The Ypsilanti Township Board of Trustees has formally declared its opposition to a proposed supercomputing facility by the University of Michigan (U-M) and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), despite U-M's recent purchase of a 124-acre parcel on Textile Road. The township's resolution reflects community concerns regarding the project's potential impact on the quality of life for residents, citing economic, medical, national security, and environmental risks. U-M Assistant Vice President Paul Corliss stated the proposed facility is a high-performance computational research center for various scientific pursuits, including national security, and is not a nuclear weapons facility. However, LANL has confirmed that nuclear research will be a key purpose. Local officials and residents, including Supervisor Brenda Stumbo and activist Samantha Stewart from the "Stop the Data Center" movement, have criticized the lack of transparency from the developers, alleging that initial project details were misleading. The project, estimated at $1.25 billion, is a point of contention. U-M is responsible for $830 million in funding, and LANL has pledged $300 million, with additional support from a $100 million grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has applauded the project for its economic impact, while State Rep. Jimmie Wilson Jr.'s bill to cancel state funding has stalled. Township legal counsel Douglas Winters has expressed frustration over the lack of support from Michigan officials, suggesting the facility could make the community a