Progressive Democrat seeks to oust GOP lawmaker in key Michigan swing seat
A proposed large-scale data center near Mason has become a central issue in Michigan’s 7th Congressional District race. Democratic candidate Will Lawrence supports a data center moratorium and criticized the project, while Republican Rep. Tom Barrett said questions about land use, water consumption, noise and electric rates should be decided locally.
The proposed data center on farmland near Mason has emerged as a major campaign issue in the race between Democratic environmental activist Will Lawrence and Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett. At a Sept. 14 Mason City Council meeting, Lawrence joined residents opposing the project and wore a "No Data Centers in MASON" cap. Barrett, who was in Washington, sent district director Keith Lane to read a letter arguing that land use, water use, noise and electric-rate concerns should be resolved by local officials.
Lawrence has made opposition to data centers a central part of his campaign, releasing a plan that calls for a moratorium on data centers and advanced artificial intelligence models. Barrett has proposed legislation limiting federal involvement in local data center siting decisions, while supporting federal oversight of artificial intelligence safety issues. The article does not identify the developer or operator of the Mason-area project.