Here’s a roundup of data center news we’re watching at Planet Detroit as we cover the environmental and financial impacts of the developments in Michigan communities.Ypsilanti Township escalates fight against U of M, Los Alamos project The Ypsilanti Township board formally resolved March 31 to oppose the construction of a University of Michigan and Los Alamos National Laboratory data center anywhere in the township, following U of M’s purchase of a 124-acre parcel on Textile Road. Community concerns center on environmental impact, national security risks, and lack of transparency. U of M maintains the $1.25-billion project is a computational research center, not a nuclear weapons site or data center, and says no final location has been selected. Source: The Eastern Echo
Oakland County Election Commission rejects Lyon Township recall petitions An anti-data center group’s second attempt to get recall petition language approved against Lyon Township’s board has failed, with the Oakland County Election Commission unanimously rejecting all 23 petitions for lacking clarity. The group, No Data Center in Lyon Township, plans a third attempt after consulting an attorney. The controversy stems from a planning commission’s September approval of “Project Flex,” a 1.8-million square-foot, six-building data center on 172 acres in the South Hill Business Park West. Source: Hometown Life
Bank of America, Blackstone back $16 billion Oracle data center Related Digital is nearing $16 billion in financing for an Oracle data center in Saline Township, Reuters reported, citing a source familiar with the matter. The project, part of the Stargate AI infrastructure initiative involving OpenAI, Oracle, and Related Digital, exceeds 1 gigawatt in capacity. Full construction began in February, with Blackstone contributing nearly $2 billion in equity and Bank of America leading roughly $14 billion in debt financing structured as a bond offering. Source: Reuters…