Michigan residents are banding together to stand up to tech companies seeking to build data centers in their communities.
Groups are organizing town hall meetings and protests, not because they're anti-technology but to push for stronger zoning requirements and greater transparency.
As WWMT News Channel 3 reported, Michigan community leaders have been rallying residents' support amid an increase in new data center proposals. There have recently been packed city meetings related to data center developments and an organized protest at the Michigan state Capitol.
The Environmental Law and Policy Center has been advocating for a balance between protecting Michigan's natural resources and the benefits of developing new data centers.
Organizations like Consumers Energy have worked to educate the public about the risks, benefits, and realities of data center projects to increase awareness of the issues. Public meetings continue across Western Michigan to gather residents' opinions on these projects.
"People are asking fundamental questions about who ultimately benefits from the development of data centers and demanding real transparency on those issues," said attorney Katie Duckworth of the Environmental Law and Policy Center.
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Meanwhile, the Lansing Board of Water and Light proposed an innovative data center project to capture heat waste from high-energy-demand services and use it to heat water for the city. Creative ideas like this could offset some of the negative environmental impacts of data center expansions by reducing pollution from burning natural gas and repurposing waste for community benefit.
Of course, data center expansion projects aren't just specific to Michigan and are becoming a prominent concern for communities worldwide.
Community resistance to tech giants exploiting local resources has been effective in many communities and has sparked advocacy to protect people's health and the environment. Now, local governments are working to hold tech companies accountable for their pollution and energy use by imposing new restrictions on data centers.
If your community is facing data center proposals like these in Michigan, you can take local action by voicing your concerns at town hall meetings and donating to advocacy organizations.
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$200 or more 💰 "I understand that data centers are necessary for the way our society uses technology, but it's appropriate for each community to ensure they're planned well and that they aren't a detriment to the environment or the local electric grid," said Chris Schrock of Development Solutions Midwest.
"We're going to do whatever it takes," said a Marshall, Michigan, resident during a data center proposal hearing.
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