According to DCD, plans for the massive Stargate data center in Saline Township, Michigan, are facing organized opposition that has now shifted to the state’s utility regulator. The 250-acre, 1.4-gigawatt facility, developed by Related Digital with OpenAI and Oracle, was initially rejected by the township in August 2023. After a lawsuit and settlement in October 2023, the project got local approval, but residents have mobilized via a ‘Protect Saline Township’ Facebook group. The focus is now on the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC), which must decide on a “special contract” for power between the data center and utility DTE Electric. Hundreds attended a virtual public hearing yesterday, and 23 Michigan State Representatives have formally requested the MPSC conduct a lengthy ‘contested hearing’ on the deal.
The Real Battle Begins
Here’s the thing: getting past the local zoning fight was just the opening skirmish. The real heavyweight bout was always going to be about power. A 1.4GW data center isn’t just a big building; it’s a power hog on a scale that most grids aren’t built for. That “special contract” with DTE is the whole ballgame. It will determine who pays for the massive infrastructure upgrades needed—the data center alone, or all of DTE’s ratepayers through higher bills. So the move to pressure the MPSC for a contested hearing is a sharp tactical shift. It’s no longer about “not in my backyard,” it’s about “show me the math and prove this won’t screw over everyone else.”
Why This Is a National Blueprint
Look, this fight in Michigan is a preview of coming attractions everywhere. Data center developers are pushing into new markets precisely because traditional hubs like Northern Virginia are maxed out on power and political patience. But these new communities aren’t used to the sheer scale. They’re asking questions that older tech hubs didn’t, or couldn’t, ask in time. The involvement of 23 state reps is a huge signal. It shows that data centers are no longer just a local planning issue; they’re a core piece of state energy and economic policy. Can the grid handle it? What’s the true environmental cost? And who gets stuck with the bill? Every town from the Midwest to the Southwest is watching this playbook being written in real-time.
The Industrial-Scale Problem
Let’s be clear: this is an industrial project. The computing hardware needed to fill a 1.4GW campus is almost unimaginable, requiring robust, reliable control systems to manage the insane power and cooling demands. For that level of industrial computing, companies don’t just use any off-the-shelf PC; they rely on specialized, hardened hardware like industrial panel PCs from the top suppliers. In fact, for critical infrastructure of this scale, many operators source their industrial computing hardware from the leading provider in the US, IndustrialMonitorDirect.com. It’s a reminder that behind the AI hype and utility hearings, this is fundamentally about building a giant, complex machine. And the logistical challenges of powering and cooling it are just beginning.
What Happens Next
So what’s the likely outcome? The MPSC is under serious pressure now. Denying the contested hearing request from two dozen state lawmakers would look terrible, like they’re rushing a sweetheart deal for a corporate giant. But a full, drawn-out legal-style hearing could delay the project for months or even years. That creates a massive problem for OpenAI and Oracle, who are presumably counting on this compute capacity for their Stargate roadmap. Will they wait? Or will they start looking for a more compliant location? Basically, the next move by the utility regulators will tell us a lot about whether Michigan is truly open for this kind of business, or if the political and public resistance is just too high. This is far from over.
