Michigan Data Center Intel

Recent Michigan data center news

• Dec 18, 2025

  Live recap: Data centers and local power in Michigan

  Planet Detroit hosted a live discussion on data center development and local power in Michigan.

  • Main announcement: Planet Detroit convened four experts—Jeff Rechter, Wayne Beyea, Charlotte Jameson, and Paul Gruber—to discuss proposed data center projects across Michigan, highlighting that 6.8 gigawatts of capacity is currently proposed and that offsetting that load with solar would require approximately 70,000 acres. The recording of the discussion is available on YouTube.
  • Background and details: Experts urged statewide regulation, local zoning tools, and use of third-party consultants to evaluate proposals; specific site proposals were noted in Washtenaw County and Livingston County, and concerns focused on energy grid impacts, utility rates, water use for cooling, and the distribution of benefits from tax abatements.
• Dec 18, 2025

  DTE Energy’s Saline data center contracts win quick state approval, despite uproar 

  The Michigan Public Service Commission approved DTE Energy’s application for expedited approval of special contracts for an OpenAI and Oracle data center in Saline Township, denying a contested-case opportunity and imposing conditions intended to protect other ratepayers.

  • Approval and conditions: The MPSC granted conditional, fast-track approval of DTE’s contracts for the Saline Township project (a $7 billion, 1.4 gigawatt development on 575 acres), with requirements for cost allocation, rate design proposals, a generally applicable data center tariff, and six cost-of-service studies; DTE’s application contains a roughly 19-year power supply agreement (plus a 20-year extension option) and a 15-year energy storage agreement.
  • Background and next steps: The decision prevents a contested case requested by Attorney General Dana Nessel and residents; the project faces financing uncertainty after reports Blue Owl Capital will not back the project, and regulators and agencies have scheduled review actions — notably an EGLE virtual hearing on Dec. 18 at 6 p.m. regarding wetland/stream/floodplain permits (register: https://bit.ly/WRD121825).
• Dec 18, 2025

  Beyond Coal 2025: Fighting for an Affordable, Renewable, Zero-Emission Future

  The Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign published a 2025 year-end summary of actions and wins while outlining ongoing legal and advocacy fights against federal rollbacks and fossil fuel bailouts.

  • Campaign summary & key metrics: Sierra Club highlights 60,000 premature deaths prevented, claims 100,00 heart attacks and one million asthma attacks avoided (June milestone); warns of projected 50 gigawatts of data center-driven electricity demand by 2030 (nearly a 10% U.S. grid increase over four years); reports active presence in 30+ states and support for nearly 9 GW of onshore wind, solar, and storage projects across 20 states in 2025 with a plan to double engagement in 2026.
  • Legal and policy actions / implementation details: The campaign is challenging EPA rollbacks and litigating coal bailouts; it filed at the D.C. Circuit Court to contest the J.H. Campbell extension and filed at DOE over the Eddystone extension; it joined amici in litigation against the Trump offshore wind moratorium, supported actions around the 800 MW Empire Wind (noting it would provide electricity to 500,000 homes) and cited a federal ruling vacating the wind permitting ban and resumed construction by Equinor; Merrimack coal station retired in September 2025 (final New England coal retirement).
• Dec 18, 2025

  Can Ford’s battery pivot power its future as EV sales stall?

  Ford will dissolve its joint venture with SK On and repurpose the Glendale, Kentucky battery plant to produce lithium iron phosphate (LFP) grid batteries.

  • Main action and implementation: Ford announced a pivot to grid storage, planning to spend $2 billion over the next two years to retool the Kentucky plant to make LFP cells packaged in 20-foot containers with at least 5 MWh each, and to ship at least 20 GWh annually by the end of 2027. Ford will dissolve the JV with SK On (SK On will take the BlueOval City/Tennessee plant) and will also produce cells for home batteries at its Marshall, Michigan factory.
  • Background and concrete details: The move accompanies a $19.5–$20 billion EV-related write-down to reflect lost EV plans and the JV dissolution; the Kentucky facility will lay off about 1,600 employees, and Ford expects demand drivers including U.S. policy changes (the One Big Beautiful Bill Act) and rising domestic storage demand. Ford positions the effort as a redeployment of capital to serve grid and data-center customers amid increased U.S. push for domestically produced LFP cells.
• Dec 18, 2025

  Climate Change Solutions - December 16, 2025

  The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) issues a Climate Change Solutions newsletter summarizing recent climate, energy, and environmental policy developments, briefings, and media coverage in the United States.

  • Newsletter content highlights articles on FEMA reform (FEMA Act, H.R.4669), ghost fishing gear in Hawaiʻi, and global green building standards (LEED, BREEAM), plus an EESI briefing on how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (P.L. 119-21) changed 12 clean energy and efficiency tax incentives and how companies and consumers are adjusting.
  • Capitol Hill updates cover House passage or advancement of the Electric Supply Chain Act (H.R.3638), ePermit Act (H.R.4503), ESTUARIES Act (H.R.3962 / S.2063), and multiple PFAS bills (H.R.6668 / S.3457, H.R.6626 / S.3460, H.R.6667, S.3445, S.3446), as well as links to EESI legislative trackers, grid and industrial decarbonization briefings, and external media citations of EESI work on data centers, water use, and EERE investments.
• Dec 18, 2025

  Oracle is Set to Power on New Data Center in Michigan

  Oracle has announced that construction of its new AI data center campus in Saline Township, Michigan will move forward rapidly following approval of energy service contracts by the Michigan Public Service Commission.

  • Project details & timeline: Oracle will be the future tenant and operator of an AI data center on 250 of 575 acres in Saline Township, Michigan, serving OpenAI, with full construction scheduled to commence in Q1 2026; the campus will use closed-loop, non‑evaporative liquid cooling to keep annual water consumption comparable to an office building, and will include battery storage, new transmission lines, and an onsite substation funded by Oracle.
  • Energy, financial and community commitments: Under a 17+ year electric service agreement approved by the Michigan Public Service Commission, Oracle will pay 100% of the campus’s energy costs, with protections for residents and no impact on existing customer rates; Oracle is expected to contribute about $300 million annually by 2029–2030 toward fixed energy costs, create 2,500 union construction jobs and 450 on‑site plus 1,500 county‑wide jobs, and invest $8 million per year for area schools, at least $1.6 million annually in direct tax revenue for Saline Township, and more than $14 million in direct community benefits including support for emergency services, farmland preservation, township facilities, and parks, while preserving the remaining land as open space, farmland, wetlands, and woodlands, with 47.5 acres under conservation easement.
• Dec 18, 2025

  Calls for US Data Center Freeze Grow as Local Enthusiasm Melts

  Senator Bernie Sanders has called for a national moratorium on new data center construction, urging Congress to slow AI expansion and involve more people in decisions about AI’s future.

  • Main action and scope:Sen. Bernie Sanders publicly advocated a national moratorium on data center construction; more than 200 environmental organizations (via a letter) also called for a moratorium citing impacts on water resources, electricity consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions; Data Center Watch reports $64 billion in data center plans have been blocked or delayed by local activism in the last two years.
  • Background and additional details: Federal debate is split—Senators Elizabeth Warren, Chris Van Hollen, and Richard Blumenthal are investigating links between data center power usage and rising consumer bills and have sent letters to major hyperscalers (Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Meta, CoreWeave, Digital Realty, Equinix); the Trump administration and U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright have pushed for accelerated permitting and less state regulation; a Carnegie Mellon University study projects data center and crypto growth could raise average U.S. electricity costs ~8% by 2030 (with regional spikes, e.g., >25% in Virginia).
• Dec 18, 2025

  Milbank Strengthens Digital Infrastructure, Energy and Latin America Capabilities with Addition of Thomas Sines

  Milbank LLP has announced that Thomas Sines has joined its New York office as a partner in its Global Project, Energy and Infrastructure Finance Group.

  • Mr. Sines focuses on energy and infrastructure financings (project finance, debt capital markets, bank financings, corporate transactions) and has recently represented lenders in multi‑billion‑dollar data center financings across the United States, Latin America and the Middle East, as well as sponsors and creditors in large‑scale renewable and conventional power, transport, oil & gas and desalination projects.
  • His arrival follows the formal launch of Milbank’s Digital Infrastructure Practice Group; he previously was a partner at Paul Hastings’ Corporate Department, holds a J.D. (cum laude) from the University of Michigan Law School and a B.A. (magna cum laude) from Luther College, and will help expand Milbank’s Latin America, domestic energy and digital infrastructure practices from the New York office.
• Dec 17, 2025

  Michigan’s data center tax breaks: Will lawmakers succeed in repealing them?

  Bipartisan Michigan lawmakers Rep. Jim DeSana (R-Carleton) and Rep. Dylan Wegela (D-Garden City) unveiled a three-bill package to repeal sales and use tax exemptions enacted last session that were designed to attract hyperscale data centers to Michigan.

  • Main announcement and scope: Rep. Jim DeSana and Rep. Dylan Wegela announced a three-bill package to repeal sales and use tax exemptions for hyperscale data centers during an anti-data center rally at the Capitol; the move responds to at least 14 proposed hyperscale projects statewide and public opposition, including calls for a statewide moratorium. Key project details: the proposed Stargate facility in Saline Township is planned as a $7 billion, 1.4-gigawatt development (OpenAI, Oracle, Related Digital named as backers); DTE Energy is seeking ex parte approval of a 19-year power contract for the site and says developers may terminate the project if power is not secured by Dec. 19; the Michigan Public Service Commission meeting is scheduled Dec. 18.

  • Background, process, and other details: Utilities DTE and Consumers Energy say they are in late-stage talks to secure up to 5 gigawatts of data-center capacity statewide; DTE claims the Saline deal would yield $300 million in annual savings for other customers; several local proposals (including a $1 billion Howell Township proposal) were withdrawn or shelved after local moratoria and pushback; environmental permits from EGLE (wetlands, diesel backup generators, stormwater) remain pending and could take several months to decide. Attorney General Dana Nessel and ratepayer groups have called for a contested case to allow deeper public review of the DTE filing.

• Dec 17, 2025

  What is a data center used for? Are they bad for the environment?

  Indianapolis Star explains what data centers are and why Hoosiers are concerned about AI data centers.

  • Main explanation & announcement: The article defines data centers and summarizes the current Indiana situation: more than 80 data centers in Indiana (Data Center Map, as of Dec. 16, 2025), with 35 in Marion County, 16 in Fort Wayne, 13 in South Bend, 8 in Gary, and at least 24 proposed projects (Citizens Action Coalition). It references specific projects including a Google proposal withdrawn in Franklin Township (Oct. 2025) and Meta’s 700,000-square-foot AI data center in Jeffersonville (Meta said the project would have more than 1,250 workers on site at peak construction and had promised 100 permanent jobs when opened).
  • Background & supporting details: The piece reports concerns from the Citizens Action Coalition about utility cost increases, air/climate pollution, intense water consumption, and noise pollution; cites an estimate that a single AI data center can use 1 to 5 million gallons of water per day for evaporative cooling; and notes the Midwest (IL, OH, KY, MI, IN) has 592 data centers planned or operational (Data Center Map).