Here are highlights of what you said:
“The answer is NO. I would not support a data center here. They are already trying to figure out a way for residents to pay the bulk of the enormous energy cost for operating the centers They would add little value at great cost.” — June Picard
“I am not supportive of building data centers in Michigan or the Great Lakes waterhed due to water usage and power usage. The job gains beyond the constuction work are limited and the environmental impact to the Great Lakes could be devasting. This is mainly due to evaporative cooling used in chillers to cool the data centers / servers, but also indirectly (power generation and evaporation there as well). The Alliance for the Great Lakes had a great webinar on the water and power usage intensity of data centers — including the limited long term job growth they bring to a community.” — Eric Carlson
“A hard NO to a data center anywhere nearby. And furthermore, if a data center proposes coming in, every resident served by that same power grid tapped to serve the data center and every resident in the watershed that data center will pull from needs have their voice heard and have a say if it is permitted. Just because the township next to mine wants to let a data center in, my well water may come from the same aquifer that goes dry and my electricity may come off the same trunk line that doubles or triples in price. They could say yes, and all the neighboring communities would end up paying the price but derive zero benefits. That’s not acceptable. And no president should be able to put a law in place restricting states rights to say no to a data center. That’s too, is entirely unacceptable.“ — Tammy Kettlehut
“If all zoning and environmental regulations are met along with public input and comment, I see no reason why this enterprise shouldn’t proceed. This is a business of the future, bringing with it economic opportunities and employment.” — Terry Moore
“With respect to supporting a data centers in any community, I would say I do not. In my opinion, large corporations and organizations (including governmental) are reluctant to provide clear and complete information regarding the impact to the communities in which they want to invest. This includes the impact to the inhabitants (including wildlife), natural resources and infrastructure of the affected communities. Big money talks loudly with cloaked confidence, yet speaks to eager ears. I’ve seen many times in my 60-plus years the after-effects of poorly vetted proposals and development in our state and elsewhere. After the damage has been done, there are typically few people willing to own up and more who simply point fingers and/or litigate their way out of accepting responsibility. In simpler terms it’s like asking, ‘Who put the turd in the punchbowl?’ and expecting an honest answer.” — Don Sillanpaa
“I support data centers with four provisions: 1) On-site cooling systems that do not impact local ground waters, streams or rivers. 2) The data center generates and stores its own electricity on -site from green energy sources. For example, solar or wind energy stored on recycled EV batteries. If building on existing farm land, the data center uses agri-voltaics to continue agriculture on site. 3) The industrial activity is screened by agricultural activities, such as native woods, cow pastures, corn or wheat fields, or other environmentally safe and agriculturally compatible landscaping. 4) The investors are responsible for returning land to existing state or better if project ceases. This responsibility cannot be discharged in bankruptcy. Perhaps a performance bond?” — Pam Liebegott
“I am not against technology but the unknown power of AI is very concerning to me. There needs to be tight regulations regarding its use which in normal times would be done at the federal level. Even industry experts warn of AI danger. I believe Michigan state legislators must place an immediate moratorium on AI data centers until such time that sustainable power and reused water solutions are developed and tested. Air quality must also be kept at an acceptable limit. If these data centers weren’t harmful there would not be all the secrecy that we are witnessing here in Michigan. AI data centers strip the environment and provide very little back to the communities they sit near. I believe there are other industries more worthy of our tax dollars that will actually require human workers and pay good wages. My two cents.” — Laurie Macpherson
“No!!! Northern lower MI has more than enough issues already re environmental concerns. Some of them are necessities, for example lumbering. A data center is NOT a necessity in my book. The drain on resources and noise would not be welcomed.” — Elizabeth Zuker
“I might support a data center IF it were covered with solar panels and could provide it’s own energy, and would recycle cooling water. We have passed the point in economic development where large resource hungry businesses can build while counting on the public to pay for their resource use. If we are to continue to expand the AI frontier, the investors need to provide their own resources.” — Jeanne Thomas
“I would absolutely not support a data center in my community. Too much expense–financial as well as environmental–would hit our shoulders in the form of demands on water, power, misuse of land. For what? AI that makes crap up out of whole cloth? No thanks.” — Linda Nafziger-Meiser
“NO. I honestly detest the blatant disregard they have to the environmental strains and damages they cause from over use to fresh water, and the pull of other resources in the falsehood of enriching the community with jobs. What it is, is a system of unchecked companies taking advantage over farmers that are hurting and other landowners who are need of any financial support/comprehensive measure made at the time. Without going off topic, it’s overly convenient that many of these farmers are in desperate positions. As to the data center topic, these companies are using their powers to press their greed and demands for such structures to be allotted, bribing and pushing there significance (DTE for example), to have rules blended or canceled, exceptions made, oversight waved and/or bypassed from zoning committee and more. These data center pry and they push through legislation with minimal exposure in the press and public awareness. Amazon data centers in Ohio are newly being cited in recent environmental impacts on humans with data of cancers, miscarriages, and other health risk due to the chemical/atomic changes with the water after used in the data center, stripping out other nutrients and so on, as they dump back overly nitrogen or something like that into the water system, impacting human health, and though the studies didn’t mention animal welfare, it’s only figured to be impacted too. Third of all, I’m not cheering on data collection of all of these companies to the point of needing such structures and drain on freshwater that is essential for life. Ai or not, I say no to the data facilities in general, as to they are just a structure for preserving exploration of human information and natural resources, and we don’t know the long-term effects of it, except it’s less land to grow hay or grains for livestock or other foods humans. It’s less affordable land for people to farm and or live on. It’s less residential/local ownership and influence. It’s a NO.” — Rachael Bugaiski
