Overview:

- As Michigan becomes a hotspot for major tech companies seeking to establish sprawling data centers, communities face critical questions about energy and water consumption.
- Local officials and residents are voicing concerns over the impact on energy grids, utility rates, and water usage, as well as who truly benefits from tax abatements.
- Experts advocate for statewide regulation and zoning tools to help municipalities evaluate these proposals, aiming to avoid negative impacts while capturing potential benefits. With 6.8 gigawatts of data center capacity proposed, offsetting power consumption with solar would demand about 70,000 acres of land.

Over the past year, Michigan has seen a surge of interest from major tech companies looking to build large-scale data centers across the state. These facilities can span hundreds of acres, consume as much electricity as a large city, and use millions of gallons of water each day for cooling.

Proposals have emerged in Washtenaw County, Livingston County, and elsewhere — often in rural townships that have never dealt with development on this scale. Local officials and residents are wrestling with serious questions: What happens to energy grids and utility rates? How much water will these facilities use? Who actually benefits from the tax abatements being offered?

To help communities navigate these decisions, we brought together four experts with different perspectives on data center development.

Jeff Rechter, a Bridgewater Township resident, shared his community’s fight to preserve farmland and their rural character as defined in their township’s master plan. Wayne Beyea, an attorney and certified planner, discussed the zoning tools and third-party consultants municipalities need to properly evaluate these proposals.

Charlotte Jameson from the Michigan Environmental Council outlined the case for statewide regulation to ensure communities avoid negative impacts while capturing potential benefits. And Paul Gruber from Fresh Coast Climate Solutions presented research on how data centers are reshaping energy and water use across the Great Lakes region.

One striking statistic emerged from the conversation: Michigan currently has 6.8 gigawatts of data center capacity proposed. To offset that power consumption with solar would require approximately 70,000 acres of land.

This discussion offers practical information for anyone trying to understand what’s happening in Michigan right now — whether you’re a township official facing a proposal, a concerned resident, or simply someone who wants to be informed about these critical infrastructure decisions shaping our state’s future.

You can view the recording here:

Nina Misuraca Ignaczak is an award-winning Metro Detroit-based editor, journalist, and documentary filmmaker. She is the founder, publisher, and editor of Planet Detroit, a digital media startup focused on producing quality climate, health, and environment journalism that holds power accountable, and spotlights solutions. Planet Detroit has received awards and recognition from the Society for Professional Journalists Detroit, the Institute for Nonprofit News, and LION Publishers since its establishment in 2019. Prior to her journalism career, Nina worked in urban planning in local government and nonprofit sectors, holding a Master of Science in Natural Resource Ecology and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.