06/05/2026
A Michigan lawmaker wants to hit the brakes on data centers before things go any further.
Republican State Sen. Jim Runestad of White Lake introduced three bills Thursday that would place a one-year moratorium on hyperscale data center development across the entire state. The idea is to pause construction while citizens, lawmakers, and business leaders take a harder look at what these facilities actually mean for Michigan communities.
The concerns driving the push are real. Runestad is pointing to potential energy rate hikes, environmental damage, and a recent Detroit Regional Chamber poll showing public opinion of data centers is dropping. People are worried most about the massive amounts of electricity these facilities consume and what that does to everyone else's electric bill.
"Farmland is being destroyed and full communities are being razed to make way for these projects that are being pushed without complete information and with a disregard for public opinion," Runestad said.
The bills landed just days after Oracle and OpenAI held a groundbreaking for a $16 billion data center project in Saline Township, Washtenaw County. Several Mid-Michigan communities, including Flint, have already proposed their own local moratoriums.
The three bills now sit in the Senate Committee on Government Operations. They would need to pass both chambers before reaching Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's desk.
Michigan is being asked to host some of the biggest tech infrastructure projects in the country. The question is whether anyone asked the people who actually live here first.
Original reporting by ABC12 News.
