michigan datacenter infrastructure
on this page
Michigan datacenter infrastructure
Michigan hosts 15 documented datacenter projects representing $11.4B in disclosed investment and 2,117 MW of power capacity. The state has emerged as a hub for AI/ML infrastructure, attracting hyperscaler investment. Multiple hyperscale operators have established presence in the state. The largest proposed project, the Related Digital/OpenAI/Oracle campus in Saline Township, has generated significant community opposition and regulatory scrutiny.
key statistics
| Total Projects | 15 |
| Total Investment | $11.4B |
| Total Power Capacity | 2,117 MW |
| Total Square Footage | 6,277,000 sq ft |
| Major Projects (>$1B or >500MW) | 4 |
project status breakdown
| Status | Projects | Percentage |
| Announced | 3 | 20.0% |
| Expansion | 3 | 20.0% |
| Operational | 5 | 33.3% |
| Planned | 3 | 20.0% |
| Canceled | 1 | 6.7% |
major projects
Top projects by investment and power capacity:
| Project | Location | Investment | Power | Status |
| Related Digital Saline Township Campus (OpenAI/Oracle) | Saline Township, Washtenaw County | $7.0B | 1,400 MW | Planned |
| University of Michigan & Los Alamos National Laboratory Data Center | Ypsilanti Township, Washtenaw County | $1.2B | N/A | Announced |
| Howell Township Data Center Campus | Howell Township, Livingston County | $1.0B | N/A | Planned |
| Form8tion Augusta Township Data Center | Augusta Township, Washtenaw County | $1.0B | N/A | Announced |
featured project: Related Digital Saline Township Campus
The Related Digital Saline Township Campus represents Michigan’s first hyperscale data center, a 2.2 million square foot facility for OpenAI and Oracle requiring 1.4 GW of power. The $7 billion project has become a focal point for debate over large-scale data center development in Michigan.
project details
- Developer: Related Digital (Related Companies subsidiary)
- Anchor tenants: OpenAI (ChatGPT creator), Oracle Corporation
- Power provider: DTE Energy (via Green Chile Ventures LLC, Oracle subsidiary)
- Site: Approximately 575 acres, ~250-acre campus in Saline Township, Washtenaw County
- Purpose: AI and cloud computing infrastructure
regulatory status
DTE Energy has requested expedited (ex-parte) approval from the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) to fast-track special power contracts for the facility. A virtual MPSC hearing was scheduled for December 3, 2025, with DTE seeking approval by December 5, 2025. This expedited process would bypass public hearings and formal legal scrutiny.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed a 17-page brief on November 6, 2025 urging regulators to increase scrutiny on the data center deal rather than approve it through an expedited process.
Multiple advocacy organizations have requested contested proceedings and the opportunity to intervene, including:
- Association of Businesses Advocating Tariff Equity
- Michigan Environmental Council
- Natural Resources Defense Council
- Sierra Club
- Citizens Utility Board of Michigan
- The Ecology Center
- Environmental Law & Policy Center
- Union of Concerned Scientists
- Vote Solar
- Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association
community opposition
Over 100 Saline area residents gathered on December 1, 2025 to protest the project and DTE’s expedited approval request. Protesters occupied all four corners of downtown Saline’s main intersection at Michigan Avenue and Ann Arbor Street.
Key community concerns include:
- Electricity rates: Skepticism about DTE’s claims that the project would not impact residential ratepayers
- Power demand: The 1.4 GW requirement representing a massive new load on the grid
- Environmental impact: Potential chemical discharges into the Saline River
- Groundwater quality: Concerns about impacts to local water resources
- Rural character: Loss of the township’s agricultural and rural identity
- Process transparency: Criticism of “secret deals” and expedited regulatory approval
zoning history
Saline Township officials initially voted 4-1 to deny Related Digital’s request to rezone approximately 575 acres for the data center campus. That denial prompted a lawsuit from Related Digital and associated landowners. Rather than fight an expensive legal battle, township officials agreed to settle the lawsuit.
policy context
Michigan’s 2024 data center tax incentive law, which took effect in April 2024 and was signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer, exempts large data center equipment and construction materials from state sales and use tax. Multiple hyperscale developers are now evaluating Michigan communities, with the Saline Township project being the most prominent.
regional distribution
| Region | Projects | Percentage |
| Metro Detroit | 5 | 33.3% |
| Southeast Michigan | 4 | 26.7% |
| West Michigan | 2 | 13.3% |
| Southwest Michigan | 1 | 6.7% |
| Mid-Michigan | 2 | 13.3% |
| Northern Michigan | 1 | 6.7% |
key developers and operators
top sponsors
| Sponsor | Projects |
| US Signal | 2 |
| Otava | 2 |
| University of Michigan | 1 |
| Los Alamos National Laboratory | 1 |
| Hyperscale Data, Inc. | 1 |
| Switch Communications Group LLC | 1 |
| Microsoft Corporation | 1 |
| 123NET, Inc. | 1 |
| Igneo Infrastructure Partners | 1 |
| Stantec Consulting Michigan Inc. | 1 |
top operators
| Operator | Projects |
| US Signal | 2 |
| Otava | 2 |
| University of Michigan | 1 |
| Hyperscale Data, Inc. | 1 |
| Switch Communications Group LLC | 1 |
| 123NET, Inc. | 1 |
| 365 Data Centers | 1 |
project types
| Purpose | Count |
| ai-ml | 7 |
| cloud | 3 |
| colocation | 8 |
| edge | 1 |
| enterprise | 5 |
| hyperscale | 8 |
| research | 1 |
complete project listing
All 15 documented projects in Michigan:
Click to expand full project table
| Project | Location | Status | Investment | Power | Sponsors |
| University of Michigan & Los Alamos National Laboratory Data Center | Ypsilanti Township, Washtenaw County | Announced | $1.2B | N/A | University of Michigan, Los Alamos National Laboratory |
| Howell Township Data Center Campus | Howell Township, Livingston County | Planned | $1.0B | N/A | Stantec Consulting Michigan Inc., Randee LLC, Meta Platforms, Inc. |
| Form8tion Augusta Township Data Center | Augusta Township, Washtenaw County | Announced | $1.0B | N/A | Thor Equities, Form8tion, JDS Equities II LLC |
| Switch SUPERNAP Grand Rapids Campus | Grand Rapids, Kent County | Expansion | $900M | 320 MW | Switch Communications Group LLC |
| US Signal Detroit Metro Expansion | Belleville, Wayne County | Expansion | $200M | 3 MW | US Signal, Igneo Infrastructure Partners |
| Microsoft Gaines Township Site | Gaines Township, Kent County | Planned | $45M | N/A | Microsoft Corporation |
| Hyperscale Data Michigan Campus | Dowagiac, Cass County | Expansion | N/A | 340 MW | Hyperscale Data, Inc. |
| 123NET Southfield DC1 Expansion | Southfield, Oakland County | Operational | N/A | 20 MW | 123NET, Inc. |
| US Signal Detroit North (Auburn Hills) | Auburn Hills, Oakland County | Operational | N/A | 8 MW | US Signal |
| Otava Metro Detroit Data Center | Westland, Wayne County | Operational | N/A | 1 MW | Otava |
| 365 Data Centers Detroit (DT1) | Southfield, Oakland County | Operational | N/A | 0 MW | 365 Data Centers |
| Related Digital Saline Township Campus | Saline Township, Washtenaw County | Planned | $7.0B | 1,400 MW | Related Companies, Related Digital, Green Chile Ventures LLC (Oracle), Oracle, OpenAI |
| Otava Mid-Michigan Data Center | Flint, Genesee County | Operational | N/A | N/A | Otava |
| Deep Green Lansing DG06 Data Center | Lansing, Ingham County | Announced | $120M+ | 24 MW | Deep Green, Lansing Board of Water & Light |
| Kalkaska County Hyperscale Data Center (Rocklocker) | Coldsprings Township, Kalkaska County | Canceled | N/A | N/A | Rocklocker, Kalkaska Go |
related pages
data current as of December 2025
sources
- Protesters rally against DTE’s attempt to fast-track OpenAI, Oracle data center - MLive (2025-12-02)