How many AI data centers are planned in Michigan? We counted.

Artificial intelligence is driving a new wave of industrial development statewide. We mapped the data centers that are proposed, approved, under construction, or already online.

This directory was updated on March 6, 2026.

MICHIGAN—In township and city halls across Michigan, a new kind of industrial project keeps appearing on meeting agendas: massive data centers built to power artificial intelligence.

Backed by global tech companies and lesser-known developers alike, these projects have promised to bring in new jobs and investment—while simultaneously raising significant concerns about energy use, land development, noise, and other long-term community impacts.

Together, they represent one of the fastest-growing forms of development in Michigan, with more than 20 AI-related projects surfacing across more than a dozen counties since 2024.

To better understand the scope of this expansion, The ‘Gander compiled and organized every known project currently proposed, approved, under construction, or operating in the state.

Approved and moving forward

“Stargate” in Saline Township: South of Ann Arbor, one of the most ambitious AI data center proposals in the country is moving toward a 2026 groundbreaking. The multi-billion-dollar campus—a partnership between OpenAI, Oracle, and developer Related Digital—will span 250 acres and consume up to 1.4 gigawatts of electricity, roughly the equivalent to the electricity use of 1 million homes. 

Nicknamed “The Barn” for a historic red barn being preserved at the entrance, the project calls for three 550,000-square-foot buildings and has been described by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as the largest economic investment in state history. Last year, the state Public Service Commission voted unanimously to approve a 19-year power supply agreement for the site. Some environmental permits are still pending, though sitework is underway and construction is expected to begin this year. 

Still, opponents—including Attorney General Dana Nessel—have challenged the fast-tracked regulatory process, and some Michigan lawmakers are also considering rolling back some state tax incentives for data centers, including this one.

“Project Flex” in Lyon Township: In Oakland County, a 172-acre data center campus developed by Verrus—a subsidiary of Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners, backed by Google parent company Alphabet—has received conditional site plan approval from township officials. The project calls for at least six buildings totaling 1.8 million square feet, which would rival Stargate in size, and is being built by longtime Detroit construction firm Walbridge, which owns the land. 

Hundreds of local residents have packed township meetings to protest the project. Among their concerns is a sound study submitted by the developer that residents have criticized as inadequate. Township officials are seeking an independent review. The project has been conditionally approved and is awaiting final review items before construction can begin.

“Project Cannoli” in Van Buren Township: Panattoni Development Co. is advancing plans for a 1-gigawatt data center on 282 acres of vacant land north of I-94 near Haggerty Road and I-275 in Wayne County. The project, which would serve an undisclosed Fortune 500 company, would consume roughly the equivalent of the electricity used by 700,000 homes. Unlike the closed-loop cooling systems favored by Stargate and Project Flex, Panattoni is using evaporative cooling—which the township has estimated could draw up to 3.6 million gallons of water per day from the Great Lakes Water Authority system. 

Township officials have granted preliminary site plan approval, despite a petition signed by more than 1,400 residents. The project is now en route to the township board, which is also considering a moratorium on future large data centers—though any such moratorium would not apply to Project Cannoli.

Metrobloks data center in Southfield: LA-based developer Metrobloks LLC has received site plan approval from the Southfield City Council for a 100-megawatt, roughly 218,000-square-foot data center on 13 acres of vacant land near Inkster Road between 11 Mile and I-696. The $1.5 billion project is much smaller than hyperscale proposals elsewhere in Michigan. City officials voted last year to approve the site plan, though the vote was divided amid ongoing community concerns. Southfield Mayor Ken Siver has acknowledged the developer does not yet have all the financing secured and faces additional permitting steps. Construction timing is still unclear.

Proposed and under review

Microsoft projects in Gaines, Dorr and Lowell townships: Microsoft has quietly accumulated hundreds of acres across West Michigan and is navigating separate review processes in each township. The company initially filed the applications through proxy firms. Municipal officials involved in the process have reportedly signed non-disclosure agreements with Microsoft, raising transparency concerns. Public hearings have drawn hundreds of residents and required rescheduling due to overcrowding. No construction timelines have been set in any of the three townships, though Microsoft recently resumed outreach efforts to meet with local residents. 

Deep Green data center in Lansing: UK-based company Deep Green has proposed a smaller-scale, 24-megawatt data center in downtown Lansing that would be built on city-owned parking lots near the Stadium District. The $120 million project has an unusual hook: the facility would capture waste heat from its servers and supply it for free to the Lansing Board of Water & Light’s hot-water distribution system, replacing a costly infrastructure upgrade. City Council President Peter Spadafore has also proposed dedicating 10% of revenue from the data center to support housing. Deep Green calls it the first project of its kind in the US. 

Though the project was initially rejected by the Lansing Planning Commission, the preliminary plans have since been approved and are now headed to the City Council for a final vote in April.

Prologis “Technical Campus” in Washington Township: San Francisco-based real estate giant Prologis is pursuing a rezoning of 312 acres of agricultural and industrial land near 32 Mile Road and M-53 in Macomb County. The company is calling it the “32 Mile Road Technical Campus” and has confirmed a data center is among the possibilities. Residents have organized protests against the project, citing concerns over rural community character, grid and water impacts, and its proximity to schools. After multiple meetings were postponed over public opposition, the project now hinges on an April 9 township Planning Commission meeting. 

University of Michigan/Los Alamos Computing Facility in Ypsilanti Township: The University of Michigan and Los Alamos National Laboratory are pursuing a proposed $1.3 billion high-performance computing and AI research facility in Washtenaw County’s Ypsilanti Township. University officials describe the project as a research center—not a commercial data center—but critics argue the scale and energy demands are comparable to other hyperscale projects. 

Township officials have opposed the proposed location along Textile Road and have urged the state to reconsider a $100 million state grant tied to the project. State lawmakers have introduced legislation to block that funding. US Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Michigan) has also voiced concerns over the process. The university says no final decisions have been made.

“Project Cherry Blossom” in Frenchtown Township: Houston-based developer Cloverleaf Infrastructure is considering a roughly 200-acre data center project on a former golf course near I-75 and North Dixie Highway in Monroe County’s Frenchtown Township. The proposal, known as Project Cherry Blossom, is in early stages but has already faced significant pushback from the local community. Cloverleaf held an informational meeting—with a slideshow presentation—about the project last year, but has not announced a formal construction timeline.

Data campus expansions in Cass and Kent counties: Hyperscale Data is planning a significant expansion to its 30-megawatt data center campus in Dowagiac. According to Crain’s Detroit Business, the company plans to expand to up to 70 megawatts in 2027 and up to 340 megawatts by 2029. Las Vegas-based Switch is also reportedly looking to expand capacity (to up to 237 megawatts) at its Pyramid campus in Gaines Township near Grand Rapids.

Data center in Allen Park: Solstice Data is reportedly proposing a 26-megawatt, roughly 45,000-square-foot data center on Enterprise Drive south of I-94. The proposal has drawn local opposition over noise, infrastructure strain, and health concerns. In response, the Planning Commission has postponed a vote on the project in an effort to seek more information.

Paused, stalled, or withdrawn

Data center in York Township: In Washtenaw County, Sansone Group is exploring the potential purchase of roughly 412 acres off Platt Road—currently owned by Toyota—for a possible data center. But York Township has since enacted a full moratorium on all data center applications while local officials continue to study whether and how to regulate them locally. 

Meta-linked data center in Howell Township: A proposal for a $1 billion, 1,077-acre hyperscale data center in Livingston County’s Howell Township drew intense community opposition before the plan was paused. Both the township planning commission and Livingston County Planning Commission recommended rezoning for the project be denied. The Howell Township Board also unanimously enacted a six-month moratorium on data center approvals, prompting developers to formally withdraw their application. Township officials are still drafting a local data center ordinance and the plans could still resurface when the moratorium expires.

Data center in Augusta Township: In Washtenaw County, another major data center campus has been proposed on agricultural land, requiring rezoning from local officials. The project has triggered resident petitions, legal maneuvering, and broader debates about whether rural communities should bear the infrastructure burden of AI development. As of publication, the proposal remains entangled in local political and legal processes, with its fate now largely hinging on a vote as the question of rezoning makes its way to the August 2026 ballot.

“Project Ironwood” in Dundee Township: Cloverleaf has also been examining a 350-acre site in Monroe County’s Dundee Township for a potential data center known as Project Ironwood. Before the proposal could advance, however, township officials approved a temporary moratorium on data centers. Meanwhile, developers appear to be in a holding pattern. 

Franklin Partners in Pavilion Township: Illinois-based real estate firm Franklin Partners recently explored building a data center on 265 acres in Kalamazoo County’s Pavilion Township. But after community backlash, the company withdrew its rezoning request. Franklin Partners has since been associated with the Microsoft data center proposal in Lowell Township. 

Pitches from Concord Infrastructure Partners: Concord Infrastructure Partners has reportedly pitched data center proposals to multiple Michigan communities with an aggressive timeline for approval. As of publication, none have formally advanced a project with Concord. 

Data center in Kalkaska County: Traverse City-based carbon-capture company Rocklocker floated plans for a potential data center in Kalkaska County late last year. The proposal faced pushback from residents and Michigan Department of Natural Resources officials indicated that public land would not be made available. Rocklocker has since dropped the idea entirely.

Did we miss a project in your neighborhood? Email us and we’ll add it to the list. And check back for news; we’ll keep this directory updated with fresh developments on a weekly basis.

READ MORE: Michigan’s US Senate candidates weigh in on data centers and AI

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