Data center news: Ypsilanti Township escalates fight against U of M, Los Alamos project

Battles over data center development are intensifying across Michigan, with various townships experiencing significant community and governmental action. In Ypsilanti Township, the board formally resolved to oppose a proposed University of Michigan and Los Alamos National Laboratory data center project on Textile Road, citing environmental and national security concerns. This comes after U of M's purchase of a 124-acre parcel for the $1.25-billion computational research center. Meanwhile, opposition groups are active in other areas. The Oakland County Election Commission rejected a second attempt by "No Data Center in Lyon Township" to file recall petitions against the Lyon Township board, which had approved "Project Flex." In Augusta Township, board members are fighting in court to overturn approved recall petition language related to a data center rezoning vote for a Thor Equities project, with voters set to decide in August. Lansing City Council President Peter Spadafore announced that Deep Green, a UK-based company, withdrew its application for a downtown Lansing data center project that intended to reuse waste heat. Separately, the Michigan Public Service Commission rejected Attorney General Dana Nessel’s bid to review DTE Energy’s power contracts for an Oracle data center in Saline Township, a project exceeding 1 gigawatt backed by Blackstone and Bank of America. Nessel, who argued for more transparency and protection for ratepayers, also co-hosted a town hall in Howell where a six-month moratorium on data centers is nearing expiration, with discussions focusing on electricity costs and water usage. Lastly, Hyperscale Data in Dowagiac plans a 48-acre expansion, prompting residents to complain about noise, leading the city council to review noise and zoning ordinances.