Data centers, hazardous waste weigh on voters in Michigan’s 31st House District
The Michigan 31st House District race is centered partly on opposition to proposed data centers, including a 1-gigawatt Google project in Van Buren Township. Candidates Laura Perry and Shannon Dare Wayne support stronger safeguards and repealing data center tax breaks, while Perry backs a one-year moratorium and Dare Wayne favors enforceable protections without endorsing a moratorium.
The open race for Michigan’s 31st House District, which includes Van Buren, Milan and Dundee townships, is drawing attention because of proposed data center development and environmental concerns. DTE Energy and Google received approval from Michigan’s utility regulator for power contracts supporting a 1-gigawatt data center project in Van Buren Township, while additional projects have been proposed in Augusta Township and Dundee Township. ITC Holdings has also applied to build a substation and switching station for the Google project.
Republican candidate Laura Perry supports a one-year data center moratorium, independent reviews of water use and other impacts, and repeal of state data center tax incentives. Democratic candidate Shannon Dare Wayne opposes the tax breaks and supports water protections, public disclosure of energy and water use, and requiring developers to pay for infrastructure upgrades, but has not endorsed a moratorium. The race also includes debate over the Wayne Disposal hazardous waste landfill, whose owner Republic Services is appealing an injunction blocking radioactive waste shipments.