Data center protest at Michigan Capitol aims to pressure regulators ahead of DTE Energy decision

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Over 100 people gathered in front of the Michigan State Capitol’s east steps Tuesday to protest the wave of data center proposals popping up across the state. The rally comes days ahead of a potential decision by state regulators on DTE Energy’s proposed contracts for Oracle and OpenAI’s $7 billion Saline Township data center.

Protesters called for regulators and elected officials to deny the quick approval of data center contracts, ensure protections for utility customers and the environment, and put an end to public officials’ use of nondisclosure agreements and what they term “secret deals” between utilities and data center developers.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel held up a sign that showed pages of redacted information from the contracts DTE submitted for approval from the Michigan Public Service Commission.

Nessel, who kicked off the rally, pushed back on the utility’s request for ex parte approval of its deal, which wouldn’t allow groups representing ratepayer, environmental, and business interests to submit testimony.

DTE says a contested case is unnecessary because the project will not increase the cost of service for other customers.

“In the biggest case in the history of the state, involving these two, giant billionaire tech AI companies, they don’t want us to know anything about it,” Nessel said. “They just want us to accept … DTE’s word that this is not going to impact our rates.”

Nessel called attention to Michigan’s high electricity costs and poor reliability, and what she said is the potential for tech companies to go out of business and leave residents paying for the costs of powering their facilities.

It’s important to get the Saline case right, as it could create a precedent for other data centers coming to the state, she said. 

“All we are asking for, it’s so simple, is just allow us to have what we almost always have, which is a contested hearing so that we can actually know what’s going on,” the attorney general said.

DTE has pushed for a quick resolution of its case, and said the Saline Township contracts allow the data center customer to terminate the agreement if it’s not approved by Dec. 19. The MPSC’s next meeting is Thursday, Dec. 18.

Data center developers have ‘gold rush mentality’: Michigan lawmaker

Organizers billed Tuesday’s rally as a nonpartisan one intended to send a message to legislators and the Michigan Public Service Commission.

The rally drew residents from many communities facing possible data center developments.

In Michigan, those include York Township, Augusta Township, Washington Township, Southfield, Saline Township, Ypsilanti Township, Lansing, Pavilion Township, Lowell, Marshall, Dowagiac, and Dundee.

Many Michigan residents and lawmakers have opposed data center projects in their communities, with the facilities’ often massive water and energy demands raising concerns the facilities could harm water resources, pass on costs to other electric ratepayers, and imperil state climate goals.

Data centers’ energy demands risk triggering an “off ramp” provision in the state’s climate law, allowing fossil fuel generation to stay online if there’s a capacity shortage.

Ann Arbor resident Mary Eldridge told Planet Detroit she’s concerned about data centers’ impacts on electric bills, farmland, and waterways as well as DTE’s push for a quick decision in the Saline Township case.

“We’re thinking about the immediate jobs for the next year or two,” she said, arguing those will quickly leave and residents could be left to pay the cost for the facilities.

Developers have said that proposed data centers like the ones in Saline Township and Howell Township could create hundreds of temporary construction jobs and bring significant tax benefits to local communities.

State Rep. Reggie Miller (D-Van Buren Township) expressed concern over potential toxic PFAS pollution from data center cooling systems, and said the plans of billion-dollar corporations and hedge funds are less important than residents’ health.

Miller said developers with a “gold rush mentality” are pushing for quick decisions on data centers before the public impact and long-term consequences of the projects can be determined.

‘Left and right, united in this fight’

At Tuesday’s rally, state Representatives Dylan Wegela (D-Garden City), James DeSana (R-Carleton), and Erin Byrnes (D-Dearborn) touted legislation they are introducing to roll back Michigan’s tax incentives for large data center developments.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed this legislation at the beginning of 2025, over objections from environmental groups.

“Power and change is never going to come from inside this institution,” Wegela said, referring to the Capitol building behind him. “But it’s going to come from the working-class people that are fighting for everyone.”

The state’s Democratic and Republican parties need reform, he said, calling attention to DTE and Consumers Energy’s support for data centers and their donations to elected officials.

Bryan Smigielski, with the Michigan Sierra Club, said the fight against data centers is bringing people together across the political spectrum, leading the crowd in a chant of “left and right; united in this fight.” 

This coalition is encouraging legislators to push back on Whitmer’s strong support for the Saline Township project, Smigielski said.

“It’s possible for the Michigan Public Service Commission, the commissioners, Scripps, Peretick, Myers, to go against the will of the political establishment. We have made it possible.”

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