Whitmer & AI CEOs Launch Controversial MI Data Center

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently joined tech CEOs at a groundbreaking ceremony for a new $16 billion data center. This project, the first OpenAI data center in the Midwest, is already under construction in Saline Township, despite local opposition. Attendees included Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, and Clay Magouyrk, CEO of Oracle. Governor Whitmer called it "the largest economic project in Michigan history." However, she's faced criticism for appearing with corporate backers, especially since Oracle is an ally of former President Donald Trump. The data center has faced community resistance. Last September, the Saline Township board denied rezoning agricultural land for the project after residents voiced opposition. But a lawsuit from the developer and landowners led to a judge ruling in their favor, allowing construction to proceed. This Michigan facility is part of the larger $500 billion Stargate Project, aimed at building AI infrastructure across the U.S. Opponents of data centers point to significant strains on local resources, such as water and electricity use. For instance, the Michigan data center is projected to use 1.4 gigawatts of energy, equivalent to a million households. This impacts local communities and the environment.