Controversial Data Center Sparks Protest in Saline Township
Saline Township is witnessing a surge of community activism as residents rally against a proposed data center that promises to reshape the rural landscape. The planned 1.4-gigawatt facility, designed to support tech giants OpenAI and Oracle, has sparked concerns over transparency and environmental impact.
On Monday, a group of residents assembled in downtown Saline, voicing their opposition to the project with chants of “No secret deals” and signs reading “Protect Pure MI.” The initiative, spearheaded by Related Digital, aims to transform 250 acres of farmland in a community home to fewer than 3,000 people.
Among the demonstrators was Tammie Bruneau, who has been actively resisting the data center since its inception. “I’m going to be honest and say I never did want it here,” she expressed, longing for a return to her tranquil life away from protests.
Concerns about the project’s energy requirements have been at the forefront of community discussions. DTE Energy, tasked with powering the data center, has assured that residential rates will remain unaffected. However, critics argue that the company has not been forthcoming about how it plans to meet the development’s substantial energy demands.
Erin Ploe, a local resident, highlighted the potential strain on the energy grid, citing frequent power outages in the area. “So DTE clearly does not have enough electricity to power the data center,” she commented, echoing the broader community’s concerns.
Public sentiment has been further inflamed by perceptions of a lack of transparency. Protesters accused DTE of executing a “middle-of-the night drive-by agreement” without adequate public input. The Michigan Public Service Commission has scheduled a public hearing for December 3 to address these concerns and increase transparency.
The proposed data center is part of a larger trend of similar developments across Michigan, with additional projects planned in Ypsilanti and Augusta townships. Despite the controversy, Governor Gretchen Whitmer has praised the Saline Township project, calling it “the largest economic project in Michigan history” and highlighting its potential to create thousands of jobs.
Jordan Rice, an organizer of the protest, expressed frustration with the state’s support for the project. “For a governor who’s been so committed to climate and green energy and things to be sort of rolling out the red carpet for a company that is almost certainly going to pollute and destroy our community, it’s just baffling to me,” Rice stated.
The local government is also caught up in the controversy. After a 4-1 vote by the Saline Township board to deny rezoning, Related Digital initiated legal action. A subsequent settlement allows construction to proceed with conditions, including noise limits and no expansion of the center.
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