The roof of a data centre is pictured in Frankfurt, Germany, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
Residents of Augusta Township are challenging a billion-dollar data center project, armed with a petition drive which could force a public vote on rezoning.

The rezoning would shift farmland to industrial use and require major infrastructure upgrades, including extended water and sewer lines. Petition organizers said they turned in far more signatures than required to qualify the measure for the ballot.

Chris Gilmer-Hill, policy associate at the Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition, said he is concerned about the massive amount of resources data centers consume.

“One major impact that we see really has to do with energy affordability,” Gilmer-Hill explained. “It’s that consistently in areas that have a data center come in, the massive increase in demand causes everybody’s else’s electricity rates to go up.”

Supporters of the data center, including some township officials, argued the rezoning and infrastructure build-out could generate tax revenue and improvements for schools and roads. If verified, a ballot measure could come as soon as May 2026.

Beyond energy use concerns, Gilmer-Hill pointed out the data center could harm the environment by relying heavily on diesel backup generators during outages.

“Because they run relatively dirty and they create a lot of air pollution just as a normal consequence of operating,” Gilmer-Hill emphasized. “If these are kicking on every time there is an outage, that could cause a localized major air-quality problem.”

Those opposed to the center also worry groundwater supplies and local wells could be stressed by the facility’s water needs, while working families bear the burden and the data center delivers few lasting jobs.

Developer Thor Equities said the project reflects the region’s shift to digital infrastructure and could help attract tech industries to the Great Lakes State.