Michigan Communities Move to Set Rules for Data Centers
Pittsfield Township adopted new data center regulations requiring conditional-use approval, large setbacks, renewable power, closed-loop cooling and developer-funded infrastructure upgrades. Elsewhere in the area, YCUA is studying data center impacts on water and sewer capacity, while Delhi Township officials oppose a proposed data center process near Holt and maintain a development moratorium.
The Pittsfield Township Board of Trustees voted 7-0 to adopt data center regulations after nearly a year of discussion and a temporary development moratorium. The rules, effective Nov. 9, limit facilities to industrially zoned sites with conditional-use approval and impose 500-foot setbacks, renewable energy requirements, closed-loop cooling, noise controls, infrastructure cost obligations and financial guarantees for decommissioning. Township Supervisor Trish Reilly said officials wanted rules in place before a developer submitted a proposal; a township survey found most respondents opposed data center development.
The Ypsilanti Community Utilities Authority is separately investigating potential effects on local water and sewer systems and has retained a moratorium on service commitments for covered facilities. Near Lansing, the Lansing Economic Area Partnership and Lighthouse Sustainability announced an exploratory process for a potential $10 billion data center on 423 acres in Delhi Township near Holt, but said no end user or formal application had been identified. Delhi officials said they were not consulted before the announcement, ended the township's LEAP membership and scheduled a vote on opposing the development; the site would also require rezoning.