Michigan residents seek moratorium and recall officials over undisclosed datacenter plans

People across Michigan are calling for moratoriums on new data‑center projects, and elected officials who approve such developments are facing backlash from residents. A new website, Lenoxdatacenter.com, went live in May and promoted a “proposed advanced technology and data center campus” in Lenox Township. The site, however, did not disclose the identity of the developers behind the project.

Lenox Township officials have denied that any application has been submitted to build a data center on township land. According to emails obtained through an open‑records request, developers had reached out to the township supervisor and deputy supervisor in an effort to secure support for the proposed campus. The correspondence suggests that the township’s leadership was approached for assistance, despite the officials’ public statements that no developer had applied.

The controversy highlights a growing tension between local governments and private developers over the siting of large data‑center facilities. Residents argue that such projects can strain infrastructure and raise environmental concerns, while developers emphasize economic benefits such as jobs and tax revenue. The situation in Lenox Township reflects a broader national debate over how best to manage the rapid expansion of data‑center infrastructure.