Homelessness, Data Centers Take Center Stage At SD-28, HD-74 Forum
Democratic candidates for Michigan's 28th Senate District and 74th House District expressed strong concerns over large-scale data centers during a recent forum. They largely supported either a statewide moratorium on construction or significantly stronger state regulations, citing environmental, water, and electricity impacts. The candidates also discussed policies related to homelessness.
Democratic candidates vying for Michigan's open 28th Senate District and 74th House District seats largely agreed on the need for stricter controls on large-scale data center development and for addressing homelessness as a housing issue. During a forum hosted by the Lansing NAACP and other organizations, every candidate who addressed data centers voiced support for either a moratorium or significantly stronger state regulations.
SD-28 candidate Ted Kilvington called for an immediate statewide moratorium until lawmakers establish standards requiring developers to fund their own infrastructure and treat water onsite. His opponent, Rashida Harrison, also backed a moratorium, emphasizing the need for more information on environmental and health effects, particularly from AI-powered facilities, and for local resident autonomy in project approvals. Ingham County Commissioners Bob Pena and Mark Polsdofer also raised concerns, with Polsdofer pointing to existing House Democratic caucus legislation aimed at better regulating data center construction and supporting local control.
House District 74 candidates Aaron Iturralde and TyJuan Thirdgill were even more emphatic. Iturralde supported at least a one-year statewide moratorium to study environmental, health, and economic impacts. Thirdgill proposed a two-year moratorium and called for repealing 2024 tax incentives for data centers, also advocating for local community veto power. Former Lansing NAACP President Harold Pope accused developers of rushing projects and emphasized the need for "guardrails" to protect communities and ratepayers.