Township pushed back on University of Michigan, Los Alamos data center
Ypsilanti Township officials and residents are actively opposing the University of Michigan's proposed data and research center, a joint project with Los Alamos National Laboratory. The community feels blindsided by the announced preferred site and has expressed strong disapproval.
Residents gathered outside the Ypsilanti Township Civic Center to protest, displaying signs that read "Hell no Los Alamos data center." This public outcry follows the University of Michigan's recent announcement of a preferred site for a new data and research center on Textile Road near the Huron River.
The proposed data center is a partnership with Los Alamos National Laboratory, which is involved in ensuring the safety of the nation's nuclear weapons. Ypsilanti Township Supervisor Brenda Stumbo expressed that township officials were "caught off guard" by the university's decision, stating, "Making this decision regardless of what our residents want, I feel like we don't matter to them." The township attorney also indicated that despite local objections, the data center is expected to proceed.