After a developer sued a township, OpenAI and Oracle's massive new Stargate data center, which will consume 1.4 Gigawatts of electricity, is now underway despite a township's vote to reject the new facility, sparking backlash. As a result, at least 19 Michigan municipalities have enacted moratoriums on new data center development since a $16 billion Stargate facility for Oracle and OpenAI was pushed through in Saline Township over near-unanimous local opposition last year, according to Bridge Michigan. The backlash now covers county resolutions, bipartisan state legislation, and a regional water authority refusing to serve proposed facilities.
The Saline project advanced despite a 4-1 vote by the township board to reject Related Digital's rezoning request in September. The developer sued within two days, alleging exclusionary zoning, and the township settled within weeks. Residents secured roughly $14 million in community benefits, including funding for the local fire department, farmland preservation, and environmental restrictions. “I think the plan was to move as fast as possible—so by the time anyone challenged it, they could say it was too far along to stop,” said one resident speaking to Forbes recently.
