Michigan Township Settles Lawsuit, Allows Data Center Project

In Saline Township, Michigan, a proposed 21 million square foot data center project by Related Digital, a subsidiary of a real estate conglomerate owned by billionaire Steven Roth, faced significant local opposition. The Saline Planning Commission and Township Board initially rejected a request to rezone 575 acres of farmland for the development, aligning with residents' wishes. However, Related Digital subsequently filed a lawsuit against the township, alleging exclusionary zoning. Facing the prospect of a costly and potentially losing legal battle, and the possibility that the developer could partner with the University of Michigan to bypass local zoning, the township opted to settle. Fred Lucas, the township's attorney, expressed the board's reluctance, stating they "didn't want a data center there." The settlement allowed the project to proceed. It was later disclosed that the data center would be primarily leased by OpenAI and Oracle, as part of a larger $500 billion AI infrastructure initiative. This outcome has left local residents, such as Kathryn Haushalter, feeling that powerful developers and political allies are imposing AI infrastructure projects on communities against their will, highlighting a perceived conflict between economic capital and local democracy.