Construction of the $16 billion "Stargate" data center in Saline Township has drawn local resistance from residents concerned about its impact on the water supply, power grid, and agricultural land. The project, involving Oracle, OpenAI, and Blackstone, covers 250 acres in a community of approximately 2,400 people. Similar developments in Washington Township and Augusta, Michigan, have also faced opposition, leading to project withdrawals or forced public rezoning votes.
A June Reuters/Ipsos poll indicated that 14% of Americans support data center construction in their own communities, with one-third approving of the current pace of development nationwide. At least 13 data centers are currently planned or under development across Michigan. Local advocates, such as Tammie Bruneau, have stated their primary goal is protecting farmland from large-scale industrialization.
The issue has become a point of contention in Michigan’s U.S. Senate primary. Representative Haley Stevens has expressed support for data centers, citing their potential for job creation and technical innovation while noting that tech firms must pay for utility usage. Her opponent, Abdul El-Sayed, has proposed requiring AI companies to operate as public-benefit corporations and suggested that local moratoriums on construction may be necessary to protect residents from corporate pressure.