Barrett bill would bar federal intervention in local data center debates
U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett introduced federal legislation to prevent federal interference in local data center siting and to ban NDAs for Congress members regarding data centers. This move comes amid significant local data center debates in Michigan's 7th Congressional District, where communities face proposed projects and calls for a federal moratorium. Barrett advocates for stronger local control and state-level action against large tech companies, contrasting with his Democratic challenger who seeks a federal moratorium.
U.S. Representative Tom Barrett, a Charlotte Republican, has introduced two pieces of federal legislation aimed at curbing federal intervention and promoting transparency in data center development. The "Protecting Local Control of Data Centers Act" would prohibit federal agencies from interfering in local data center siting, zoning, permitting, or land-use decisions, and prevent conditioning federal funding on relinquishing local authority. The "No Data Center NDAs Act" would ban members of Congress from signing non-disclosure agreements related to planned data centers, a practice Barrett says often leaves communities in the dark until projects are nearly approved.
The legislation stems from the contentious data center debate in Michigan's 7th Congressional District, where Barrett is seeking re-election against Democratic challenger Will Lawrence. Local communities in the district, including Vevay Township in Ingham County (site of a proposed $1 billion hyperscale data center) and Saline Township, have been approached by developers, leading to frustrations over a lack of local control and the perceived advantage of well-funded tech companies. Lawrence, a Lansing activist, has advocated for a federal moratorium on data centers until environmental and ratepayer protections are established, criticizing Barrett's "local control" stance as insufficient to counter powerful tech firms.
Barrett, conversely, argues that if companies "steamroll" local governments, the state Legislature should strengthen local control laws and revoke tax incentives that benefit developers. He referenced a 2015 vote against data center incentives as a state lawmaker. This comes as Michigan's Democratic-led Legislature recently passed bills allowing sales and use tax exemptions for large-scale data centers in the state, while also removing local siting authority for wind and solar projects. Nationally, political figures like former President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson have weighed in, with Trump supporting data center expansion and Johnson warning against a federal moratorium.