U-M to hold town hall Wednesday over planned data center
The University of Michigan plans to build a data center in Ypsilanti Township, Washtenaw County, in collaboration with Los Alamos National Laboratory. The project faces significant community opposition, including concerns about environmental racism, leading the Township Board of Trustees to enact a six-month moratorium on large electric utility structures. A town hall meeting on the project has reached capacity, with another one planned for October.
The University of Michigan plans to construct a data center near the Huron River in Ypsilanti Township, Washtenaw County, in partnership with Los Alamos National Laboratory. This facility would serve both academic computing needs for U-M researchers and a federal research center focused on nuclear stewardship, a detail that has drawn considerable attention and controversy.
Last month, the Ypsilanti Township's Board of Trustees unanimously approved a six-month moratorium on large electric utility structures. The township attorney expressed concern that the data center's ties to nuclear weapons maintenance could make the community a target, and suggested the proposed site was chosen due to environmental racism, arguing such a facility would not be placed in Ann Arbor.
The University of Michigan has countered these claims, stating a commitment to listening to neighbors and ensuring responsible development. A town hall meeting on the proposed data center reached capacity, prompting the scheduling of a second meeting in October. The community debate and the moratorium reflect significant local opposition to the project.