Data center proposed for 14.4 acres on Detroit's east side; city council seeks moratorium

A proposal for an AI data center on 14.4 acres of city-owned land on Detroit's east side is under scrutiny as the Detroit City Council pushes for a two-year moratorium. The land, located off Shoemaker St. near the Stellantis Jeep Plant and Coleman A. Young Municipal Airport, was part of a request for proposal (RFP) issued last fall by the city. While some residents, like Damian Carlisle, see potential for revitalization, Carlisle also expressed concerns about the location and supported the council's move. Councilwoman Mary Waters highlighted significant worries about the data center's enormous energy and water consumption, noting these are already high costs for residents. She also raised questions about the long-term environmental effects, though she emphasized her reluctance to fully oppose without all facts. The Mayor's office has acknowledged and is vetting the city council's request for a moratorium, aiming to gather more information, a practice seen in other communities. Currently, the company behind the proposal remains unknown, and DTE, the utility provider, has not released details due to the early stage of the process. The City of Detroit lacks specific regulations pertaining to data centers.