Candidate running for Project Tango district is embroiled in Michigan data center controversy

Michael Carbonara, a Republican candidate vying for Florida's 22nd Congressional District, is embroiled in a data center controversy in Michigan that has drawn criticism regarding his political stances. Carbonara, who publicly advocated for caution with data center development in his Florida district, where the proposed "Project Tango" data center faces significant opposition, is also personally named in a lawsuit attempting to shut down a Bitcoin mining operation next to a PreK-5 Montessori school in Dafter Township, Chippewa County, Michigan.

The Michigan data center, comprising six container-sized units, has been the subject of a lawsuit filed by Lake Superior Academy. The school alleges that the constant noise from the cooling fans, reaching up to 72.7 decibels, disrupts the educational process, particularly outdoor classrooms. Despite legal efforts to identify true ownership through layers of shell companies, Carbonara's name appears on local permit documents linking him to Odessa Partners, the land-owning entity, while Alpha Watt LLC is cited as the operator.

Community activists in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, such as UP North Advocacy director Kalvin Carter, expressed distrust toward the data center industry, viewing it as extractive and detrimental to local communities. The lawsuit led to a two-week shutdown of the Michigan operation last year, during which the companies claimed $15,000 daily losses and are now demanding nearly $200,000 from the school for lost revenue. The case is ongoing, with the next hearing scheduled for July 29.

Opponents of Florida's "Project Tango," like Ben Brown of the Arden community homeowners association, voiced deep concern over Carbonara's apparent "political double speak." Critics argue that his involvement in a project causing harm elsewhere while campaigning on local protection in Florida is hypocritical and suggests a willingness to externalize harm to other communities.