Contact: Nora Naughton, nora.naughton@sierraclub.org
LANSING – Sierra Club Michigan took to the Capitol Tuesday to urge lawmakers to take action on languishing data center legislation.
Activists and volunteers joined Sierra Club staff this morning to deliver literature to lawmakers outlining the struggles local communities are facing as more data center projects pop up all over the state. Without statewide regulations, Sierra Club volunteers from these smaller communities said they are left to negotiate against massive tech companies and developers without any safeguards.
“Small communities like mine are in desperate need of support. We banded together to pass a temporary moratorium on data center development. This offers us some relief but the clock is ticking,” said Rachel McGrady-Hawley, a Sierra club member and community organizer in Dorr Township. “We don’t have the resources to fight the largest tech companies in the world. We need state legislators to take action and provide a regulatory framework that can give us some peace of mind.”
Later in the afternoon, leaders from environmentalist groups including Sierra Club Michigan, Clean Water Action, Michigan Climate Action Network, Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition, and good-government organizations including Voters Not Politicians gathered on the West Capitol steps to say with one voice: We want action on data centers now.
At the start of this year, Sierra Club Michigan published a petition for a statewide pause on all data center development until lawmakers can install the proper safeguards. Environmentalist groups and concerned residents were encouraged to see legislation introduced following a massive wave of support for the data center moratorium, and we cannot afford to lose momentum now.
“Since our press conference two weeks ago, the urgency for action has only increased. Even big tech leaders like Elon Musk and Sam Altman are calling for a slow down of AI development.” said Marta Johnson, Legislative & Political Organizer for the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter. “And unlike federal or local law makers - state representatives and state senators have a unique opportunity to actually do something. No more promises, finger pointing, or kicking the can down the road. We need legislators to stand up to big tech and protect communities now with legislative action.”
“As the threats to democracy from the tech sector have grown, VNP has convened a specific Tech Policy Committee to ensure that the rapid escalation of advances in this sector do not continue to pose an acute threat to our democracy,” said Kendell Joseph, VNP Tech for Democracy working group member. “Tech company and tech billionaire spending in and between elections creates a situation where our political leaders have lost their willingness to take action. That’s why I am here today: democracy DEMANDS that politicians step up and regulate tech companies so we can take back our democracy.”
“The data center development process in Michigan has so far been shrouded in secrecy, with backdoor deals and non-disclosure agreements robbing residents of the chance to fully evaluate a proposal,” said Amanda Robert, Network Director for the Michigan Climate Action Network (MiCAN). “As rural communities are up against massive pressure from big tech and their data center proposals, we cannot delay on transparency solutions. We are committed to working with lawmakers on this issue – we just need the legislation to move forward.”
“The future health of our water and air relies upon what lawmakers in Michigan do now to regulate hyperscale data centers. These facilities present a real threat to our precious resources here in Michigan – especially our abundance of fresh water in the Great Lakes,” said Chris Gilmer-Hill, Policy Manager with Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition. “Repeatedly we have seen Google miss their voluntary commitments on water and clean energy. We cannot continue relying upon such promises from big tech companies who claim to have our best interest at heart. It’s time for legislators in Lansing to move forward with real solutions on data centers. We’re ready to work with you all to make Michigan a national leader in data center protections.”
“Our Clean Water Action canvassers talk to hundreds of people every day. Repeatedly we hear that a top concern for Michiganders – across the political spectrum – is the impact that widespread data center development will have on their communities,” said Emily Woodcock, Michigan Director of Clean Water Action. “This is not a partisan issue - the public across the political spectrum is with us in looking for action from our lawmakers. We need a pause on data center development immediately, and real protections that will help communities now, not promises for future action. Clean Water Action is ready to partner on the hard work to make the data center safeguards that Michanders deserve a reality.”
“The secrecy that allowed Microsoft to move into our community should not be allowed to happen. We need transparency, a ban on NDAs, and strong regulations in our state laws in order to give communities like Dorr a fighting chance,” said Linda Dumond, a community organizer with No Data Center in Dorr. “We are sick of waiting – we want legislative action on data centers now.”
###