VOICES: Unlikely opportunities for water progress in raging data center debate

An unexpected alliance is forming in Michigan between environmental leaders and rural conservatives who are uniting against data center developments due to significant concerns over water usage. This unusual dynamic is prompting discussions about the need to modernize the state's water policies. Data centers can consume millions of gallons of water daily for cooling, impacting municipal supplies, groundwater, and surface waters. Critics point to weaknesses in current policies, including a lack of disclosure on water consumption, insufficient standards for water protection in permits, and fragmented management of surface and groundwater. The scale of data center growth is straining regional water supplies, particularly in rural areas within the Great Lakes watershed, which has historically taken water abundance for granted. The debate presents a potential opportunity to build partnerships and advance comprehensive water protection reforms. DTE Energy and Google, for example, have announced plans for a 1-gigawatt data center, possibly tied to "Project Cannoli" in Van Buren Township, highlighting the direct relevance of these concerns to ongoing developments in Michigan.