Contact: Nora Naughton, nora.naughton@sierraclub.org
LANSING – As the Michigan State Senate returned to session this morning, they were greeted by Michiganders demanding action on languishing data center legislation.
Leaders from environmentalist groups including Sierra Club Michigan, Clean Water Action, Michigan Climate Action Network, Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition, and others gathered on the East 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.
“As data center projects continue to pop up at an alarming rate across Michigan, we need our lawmakers to build on proposed legislation and take action to protect our communities,” said Marta Johnson, Legislative & Political Organizer for the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter. “While the legislation that has been introduced in Lansing has given us a good start, much more work is ahead. We cannot continue to kick the can down the road on statewide legislation as our local communities are overwhelmed with a slew of data center project proposals.”
“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 environment 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. “We cannot continue relying upon promises from big tech companies who claim to have our best interest at heart. We are ready to work with lawmakers to develop the strongest data center environmental protections in the nation.”
“Establishing effective and enforceable regulations on data centers is not a partisan issue. We hear from Michiganders every day – across the political spectrum – who are concerned about widespread data center development and the impact these massive facilities will have on their communities,” said Emily Woodcock, Michigan Director of Clean Water Action. “The public is with us. Michiganders want to see lawmakers get to work passing a moratorium on data center development, while advancing legislation that provides the strongest possible protections for our environment and for ratepayers.”
“We’ve experienced the consequences of delayed action first hand in Northern Michigan.” said Kalvin Carter of Northern Michigan Alliance for Responsible Development and Up North Advocacy. “The lack of transparency in the process as it stands leaves residents to fight excessive noise pollution and environmental harms after these facilities are already built. We need statewide regulations to set communities up for success, not force them to hold all the responsibility in dealing with how to zone or regulate these proposals.”
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