Lansing considers data center moratorium after downtown plans pulled amid neighbor pushback

The City of Lansing, Michigan, is actively considering implementing a moratorium on data center development, a move prompted by significant public opposition. This consideration comes weeks after Deep Green, a developer, withdrew its plans for a downtown data center project in Lansing due to extensive pushback from local residents. A proposed data center moratorium has been submitted by Councilmember Ryan Kost and is slated for discussion by the city's Committee of Development and Planning at its upcoming meeting on May 4. Kost indicated that community feedback, particularly the concerns raised by neighbors against the Deep Green project, is crucial in shaping future city guidelines for data centers. Residents like Tyjuan Gillthird from Delhi Township have voiced strong environmental concerns, advocating against short-term economic gains at the risk of ecological damage. Another Lansing resident, William Walker, emphasized the need for careful consideration of data center placement, suggesting they should not be located in residential areas, while acknowledging their future role. Additionally, State Representative Emily Dievendorf is reportedly working on statewide data center guidelines, though she was unavailable for comment on the matter.