Public speaks out against data centers at House subcommittee hearing

The Michigan House of Representatives Oversight Subcommittee on Corporate Subsidies and State Investments concluded its investigation into the economic and environmental impacts of data center development across the state. Chaired by Rep. Steve Carra, the hearing saw over 30 Michigan residents express strong opposition, while two registered supporters failed to appear. Concerns ranged from potential excessive water usage to government officials signing non-disclosure agreements with data center companies. Tammy Bruno, a resident of Saline Township, highlighted her community's struggle against a $7 billion, 1.4-gigawatt AI data center being constructed by Related Digital, Oracle, and OpenAI. Bruno and her husband formed the Rural Michigan Defense Fund to combat this development. Similarly, Lauren Hodges from Vandalia, Cass County, voiced fears about environmental impacts like light and noise pollution stemming from Hyperscale Data's land acquisition and existing AI data center in the area. Rep. Carra echoed these concerns, describing data center development as "more dangerous than nuclear bombs." The subcommittee is now tasked with reviewing testimony to weigh the pros and cons of data center development in Michigan. Meanwhile, state legislation proposing a moratorium on new data center development has stalled, indicating ongoing legislative uncertainty around the issue.