Jim Runestad

Michigan lawmakers, local officials, and residents are advocating for a statewide moratorium on data center development due to concerns about water and energy usage, lack of transparency, and the impact on farmland. Tax breaks for data centers introduced in 2025 have spurred development but drawn opposition, prompting legislative proposals to pause projects for regulatory review.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has abandoned plans to convert a Romulus warehouse into a detention center, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) now intends to sell the property. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and the city of Romulus had sued to block the conversion, citing concerns over the facility's suitability and proximity to residential areas.

Michigan data center developments include a proposed facility moving forward in Mason, a denied 26-megawatt project in Allen Park, and a $16 billion data center groundbreaking in Saline Township led by Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Legislative efforts to impose a one-year moratorium on data centers were introduced by State Sen. Jim Runestad but opposed by Whitmer, who emphasized environmental and energy accountability. Google is funding a water management initiative in Wayne County, and environmental concerns over wastewater capacity are highlighted by a moratorium in Ypsilanti.

State Sen. Jim Runestad, Michigan Republican Party Chair, proposed a one-year moratorium on data center projects to assess their impacts, including environmental and rate hike concerns. The bills, co-sponsored with Sen. Ruth Johnson, aim to gather data before implementing regulations, mirroring similar legislation in the House as the state sees a surge in AI data centers.

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democratic gubernatorial candidate, faces Republican attacks over her past work with the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), which was indicted by the DOJ for allegedly paying extremist groups like the KKK. Benson's campaign defends her record, emphasizing her civil rights advocacy, while GOP officials demand transparency about her knowledge of SPLC's activities during her tenure.