As Data Centers Advance, Questions Over Costs and Oversight Grow
A proposed Oracle and OpenAI data center in Saline Township is facing scrutiny over wastewater discharge into the Saline River, including phosphorus limits and contaminants that may not be routinely tested. Michigan officials, residents and policy experts are also debating the environmental and electricity costs of data center growth, while Ypsilanti Township maintains a temporary moratorium on new water and sewer connections.
A public hearing in Saline Township examined a proposed wastewater discharge permit for an Oracle and OpenAI data center. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy is considering allowing treated sanitary wastewater to enter the Saline River, prompting residents and environmental consultant Nicki Rockentine to question phosphorus limits, cumulative discharges and untested contaminants such as PFAS, pharmaceuticals and microplastics.
At a Bridge Michigan policy summit, Ypsilanti Township Supervisor Brenda Stumbo and other panelists discussed whether small communities can evaluate major data center projects quickly enough and whether tax revenue and jobs will offset infrastructure costs. U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell separately asked federal officials for answers about contamination and monitoring near a proposed University of Michigan-Los Alamos National Laboratory computing center in Ypsilanti Township. DTE Energy's proposed $6.4 billion investment in two natural-gas power plants also raised questions about how new generation costs for large industrial users would be allocated, although DTE said its agreements protect existing customers from project-specific costs.