LANSING, Mich. – As proposals for large AI and data-center campuses in both Saline Township and Howell Township face mounting resistance and regulatory delays, Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks says Michigan must be prepared, but only with proper protections, transparency, and community input.
“Data centers are coming to the United States, and the entire world, you know, very quickly,” Brinks said in an interview at the WDIV studios in Downtown Detroit on Monday, Dec. 8. “And there are huge advantages to us from the computing power that those centers create.”
Saline Township: Regulators pass deadline, project in limbo
On Dec. 8, WDIV reported that the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) declined to act on power-contract requests submitted by DTE Energy tied to a proposed 1.4-gigawatt, multi-billion-dollar data center planned for 575 acres of farmland south of Ann Arbor in Saline Township. The MPSC passed over DTE’s self-imposed Dec. 5 deadline.
The massive project, which has drawn thousands of public comments and a virtual hearing attended by more than 800 people, remains stalled.
An additional virtual hearing has been scheduled for Dec. 18 to examine the proposed impacts to wetlands, streams, and floodplains under environmental permit applications.
In response, DTE said it will continue to follow the regulatory process, while developers maintain that the project would bring “job creation and digital infrastructure.”
“We have seen conversations here in Michigan get very robust around the impacts of data centers,” said Brinks.
Howell Township: Meta-backed proposal withdrawn for now
Meanwhile, in Howell Township, WDIV reported that the developer behind a proposed AI data center — reportedly backed by Meta — has withdrawn its rezoning request and text-amendment application as of Dec. 8.
The proposal initially sought to convert roughly 1,000 acres of farmland near Grand River and Fleming roads into a major data center campus, a plan that triggered strong community backlash over concerns about water use, environmental impacts, and increased utility burdens.
Howell Township had earlier imposed a six-month moratorium on data-center development to allow time for community review and development of specific zoning rules.
Even with the withdrawal, township officials have kept a public meeting scheduled for residents to comment on the project — signaling that the debate may not be over.
Brinks: Data-center growth is coming with conditions
Brinks said recent legislation already builds in safeguards meant to regulate data-center development responsibly. She emphasized requirements such as closed-loop water systems, protections to shield residents from potential spikes in electricity costs, and expectations that large, profitable tech companies pay their fair share for infrastructure upgrades.
But she added that communities must be involved.
“We also expect them to go through a process, and I think that’s where you’re seeing a lot of the tension now,” said Brinks. “We expect them to go through a rigorous process with their local communities and with the energy regulators to ensure that they are doing things the right way. They can’t just bypass that.”
What’s ahead
- In Saline Township, the next critical step is the Dec. 18 environmental permit hearing — which could determine whether the project moves forward or stalls indefinitely.
- In Howell Township, while the rezoning request has been withdrawn, local officials say the door remains open: public input and future zoning rules may determine if data-center proposals return.
- For Michigan broadly: the outcomes in Saline and Howell could set precedents for how future data-center proposals are evaluated, balancing economic potential with environmental, infrastructure, and community concerns.
Brinks’ message is clear: Michigan should expect data centers, but only if development is transparent, regulated, and built with the consent of host communities.