Benson takes on data center boom with stricter safeguards

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson has introduced a comprehensive plan to impose strict new safeguards on data center development across Michigan. This initiative responds to increasing demand for energy-intensive AI infrastructure and widespread resident concerns about rising energy costs, environmental degradation, and the state's opaque approval processes. Benson, currently Michigan's Secretary of State, announced her proposal to Metro Times, emphasizing that data centers must provide prosperity, union jobs, and affordable energy for residents, with projects failing these standards prohibited from operating in the state. The debate has intensified as Michigan becomes a prime location for data center development, with projects under consideration in at least 10 communities. A key flashpoint is a proposed $7 billion data center in Saline Township, Washtenaw County, which could consume as much electricity as nearly a million homes. Residents and environmental groups have expressed significant concerns about wetland destruction, grid strain, and increased consumer costs. Public surveys, including a December poll by Progress Michigan, indicate strong opposition among Michiganders over utility bills, environmental impacts, and a perceived lack of transparency. The issue has also become a focal point in the gubernatorial race. While Benson advocates for strict statewide conditions, independent candidate Mike Duggan supports uniform statewide standards for water and electricity, and Republican John James emphasizes local control. The controversy around Benson's plan has been complicated by misleading claims from right-wing media regarding her husband, Ryan Friedrichs, a vice president at Related Digital, a company involved in the Saline Township project. Related Digital sued Saline Township after its rezoning request was denied, but the company asserts Friedrichs has no financial ties to the project and recused himself from any state-related work in Michigan. Benson's proposal aims to balance economic growth with community and environmental protection, stating that any corporations violating these 'guardrails' will not be permitted to operate in Michigan.