Van Buren Township officials approve plans for controversial Google data center campus
Van Buren Township officials approved plans for Google's 282-acre data center campus despite months of opposition from residents concerned about noise, environmental effects, property values and water usage. Construction is already underway, with utility work and road impacts expected through 2027.
Van Buren Township officials approved the site plan for a 282-acre Google data center campus north of Interstate 94, despite sustained resident opposition. Residents raised concerns about noise, dust, environmental impacts, property values and water use, while Panattoni Data Centers President Adam Kramer said the project had been modified over three years to address community feedback and reduce neighborhood impacts.
The project is already under construction and is expected to generate jobs and tax revenue. Utility work will proceed in eight phases, with temporary road closures and traffic restrictions continuing through early 2027. Township officials said Michigan law required approval because the plan met existing zoning standards, while the article also describes moratoriums and proposed restrictions being considered by other Michigan communities over data center impacts on utilities, water, noise and land use.