State Data Center Moratorium Could Delay The Barn
Michigan state senators have introduced bills proposing a moratorium on data center operations until April 2027, which could delay the opening of "The Barn" project in Saline Township, despite construction being underway. Governor Gretchen Whitmer opposes a halt, advocating for high standards instead. Saline Township is also considering a local moratorium on future industrial zoning requests.
State Senators Jim Runestad (R-White Lake) and Ruth Johnson (R-Holly) introduced Senate Bills 1018, 1019, and 1020 on June 4, proposing a statewide moratorium on data center operations in Michigan until April 1, 2027. The proposed legislation, if passed, would prohibit any data center not already operational from commencing activities during this period, directly impacting projects like "The Barn," an artificial intelligence data center campus in Saline Township, which is currently under construction but not yet operational. The project, backed by Related Digital, Oracle, and OpenAI, represents a more than $16 billion investment.
Senator Runestad stated the bills aim to provide a temporary pause for lawmakers to review potential impacts on electricity costs, water resources, farmland, and local communities, citing "overwhelming public outcry" over the rapid scale of data center development. Conversely, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who attended "The Barn" groundbreaking, expressed opposition to halting data center development. She emphasized that data centers are inevitable and Michigan should instead focus on holding companies to high environmental and operational standards.
Separately, Saline Township is also considering a local moratorium, though it appears to be narrower in scope. Saline Township Clerk Kelly Marion indicated that the local proposal, which focuses on future industrial zoning requests for six to 12 months, would likely not affect existing projects such as "The Barn." Similar legislative packages have been introduced in the Michigan House by Representatives Jennifer Wortz (R-Quincy), Joseph Fox (R-Fremont), and Dylan Wegela (D-Garden City. Both the House and Senate bills have been referred to Government Operations committees. A recent statewide poll commissioned by the Detroit Regional Chamber found Michigan voters divided on data centers, though more open to them with regulations in place.