A colossal $7 billion data centre project in rural Michigan, backed by a powerful consortium of tech billionaires and politicians, has ignited a fierce David versus Goliath battle with local residents who brand the scheme "uniquely evil." The proposed facility in Saline Township, part of the broader "Stargate" initiative, would consume a staggering 1.4 gigawatts of power—equivalent to the entire city of Detroit—and threatens to derail the state's clean energy transition while transforming a quiet community.
A Community United Against Corporate Power
The fight began when Saline Township's board of trustees, responding to overwhelming resident pressure, voted down the plans in September. However, the project's formidable backers—including Donald Trump, OpenAI's Sam Altman, Oracle's Larry Ellison, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, utility giant DTE Energy, and billionaire developer Stephen Ross—swiftly fought back. The developer, Related Digital, sued the township. Vastly outgunned and under-resourced, the local board quickly reversed its decision, settling the lawsuit despite continued fierce opposition from the community.
"This is part of an experience that America and the world is having around tech billionaires who are seizing power and widening the gap," said Yousef Rabhi, a former Democratic state legislative leader and clean energy advocate opposing the plans. He argues the centre symbolises the growing chasm between the ultra-wealthy and working people. The project, the largest in Michigan history by investment, received substantial federal subsidies and tax breaks that Rabhi notes could have funded local roads and schools.
Environmental Fears and Regulatory Battles
Local residents, a politically diverse coalition, fear the 575-acre centre will jack up household energy bills, pollute groundwater, and forever destroy the area's rural character with noise, light, and air pollution. Their best hope to halt the project now lies in challenging DTE Energy's claims before the Michigan Public Services Commission (MPSC).
DTE has petitioned for a fast-tracked, limited-scrutiny approval, asserting the data centre will not increase costs for existing customers or undermine Michigan's nation-leading climate laws. However, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and consumer advocates are demanding a full "contested case" hearing to force DTE to provide evidence. Critics point out that DTE's own plans suggest new gas plants may be needed to meet the huge power demand, potentially triggering an "off-ramp" in the state's renewable energy law.
"DTE and regulators cannot claim transparency while shutting the public out of the only process that requires DTE to support its claims with actual evidence," said Bryan Smigielski of the Sierra Club, which is intervening in the case.
Life on the Front Line
For families living next to the construction site, the battle is deeply personal. Former US Marine Kate Haushalter and her husband are raising five homeschooled children in a renovated farmhouse abutting the property. They bought the once-dilapidated home for a bucolic life, managing beehives and planting trees. "I can’t believe the biggest construction project in Michigan is landing literally in my backyard, and there’s no recourse for the little guy," Haushalter said. "It’s going to crush us."
Another resident, Josh LeBaron, whose home is 500 yards from the site, labelled the project "uniquely evil" due to its environmental risks and alleged secrecy. He rejects accusations of NIMBY-ism, stating he would not oppose a housing development, and argues Michigan's many former industrial sites would be more appropriate. A Related spokesperson told *The Guardian* the chosen site was "ideal" as a flat, contiguous area near major roads and transmission lines.
Saline Township Supervisor Jim Marion encapsulated the local officials' plight, telling residents at a heated meeting, "This township doesn’t have the money to fight these big companies. We were dealt the cards we were dealt." Despite the odds, opposition is growing more organised, with hundreds attending protests and public input sessions, pressuring state regulators to withhold crucial wetland permits.
The conflict in Saline is not isolated; it is one of roughly a dozen data centre proposals in Michigan facing strong local opposition, representing a microcosm of a national struggle where communities with limited resources confront the combined might of Big Tech and political establishments.
