Washtenaw County Prepares for a Vote on Proposed Data Center Rezoning
Residents in a rural section of Washtenaw County are gearing up for a significant vote next year, as they will decide on a rezoning issue pivotal to the establishment of a new data center.
Travis Matts, leading the initiative known as Protect Augusta Charter Township, expresses concerns about the potential consequences of the data center’s construction. Matts highlights the noise and environmental impact it might cause, along with the risk of exacerbating existing electricity outages.
“A lot of folks out there already have to have backup generators on standby because if the wind blows too hard, their power goes out,” Matts remarked. “If something like this [data center] does pass through, our power grid could fail.”
Earlier this year, Augusta Charter Township officials approved the rezoning of over 500 acres for the project. However, they have not provided comments regarding the decision, as they did not respond to interview requests.
In addition to the proposed data center in Augusta Charter Township, Washtenaw County is also anticipating two other data centers, which are planned for Saline Township and Ypsilanti Township.
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