WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI — Communities across Washtenaw County are hitting pause buttons on proposals for data centers following an influx of proposals for massive “hyperscale” data center projects to power artificial intelligence and other computing technologies.
Several townships and cities in the county have enacted moratoria, temporary pauses on applications and consideration of data center projects, to give officials time to consider local rules and regulations.
The temporary pauses come in reaction to the influx of data center projects in the state, including the controversial “Stargate” data center for ChatGPT-creator OpenAI and major technology firm Oracle, which is under construction off West Michigan Avenue in Saline Township…