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Ann Arbor MI Politics & Government · Politics of Data

Data Center: News, Information & Resource Center for Ann Arbor MI

Who decides where data centers go near Ann Arbor — zoning and planning, the local elected board, the county, the state utility commission, and environmental permits — plus what is on file and reporting from across the HERE network.

Zoning & PlanningCity CouncilCountyUtility CommissionPermitsGrid
Politics of Data

Who Decides on Data Centers Near Ann Arbor

DATA CENTER: NEWS, INFORMATION & RESOURCE CENTER FOR ANN ARBOR

Washtenaw County is ground zero for Michigan's data-center politics: one township voted a campus down by nearly nine to one, and another is building one of the largest in the country under state-approved power contracts.

A data center in or near Ann Arbor would first need local land-use approval through Ann Arbor Planning Services, and Washtenaw County weighs in on land outside city limits and on tax incentives. The Michigan Public Service Commission is the state utility regulator; it reviews rates and large-customer power contracts for the utilities it oversees. Air and water permits come from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).

National context: Federal energy researchers estimate data centers used about 4.4% of all U.S. electricity in 2023 and could use 6.7% to 12% by 2028, which is why utility commissions, local boards, and voters are now central to where these campuses land. U.S. Department of Energy report

What’s on file near Ann Arbor

  • Augusta Charter Township, Washtenaw CountyOn Aug. 4, 2026, voters overturned Ordinance 2025-02, which had rezoned seven parcels totaling 522.2 acres from Agricultural Residential to General Industrial for a proposed hyperscale data center campus tied to Thor Equities. The result was 2,314 No (89.59%) to 269 Yes (10.41%), so the land stays agricultural residential. The Township Board had approved the rezoning 7-0 on July 22, 2025, and residents petitioned it onto the ballot. On Sept. 22, 2026, the board adopted Ordinance 2026-04, which lets the township impose temporary zoning moratoriums of six months to one year. A separate recall effort against all seven township officials cleared county petition review on Sept. 24; the earliest possible recall election would be May 2027.
  • Saline Township, Washtenaw CountyThe Michigan Public Service Commission conditionally approved DTE Electric contracts on Dec. 18, 2025 to serve a roughly 1.4-gigawatt data center campus in Saline Township (Case U-21990) and denied rehearing on March 27, 2026. The Attorney General has appealed to the Michigan Court of Appeals, seeking a full contested case. Construction is underway, and the commission has since placed customers of 500 megawatts or more first in line for load shedding during certain grid emergencies.
  • Ohio spillover watchOn Nov. 3, 2026, Ohio voters in 18 municipalities decided 21 local data-center measures, more than half of the 41 on ballots nationwide, and every Ohio result went against new data-center development, from outright bans to voter-approval and financial-guarantee rules. With that many Ohio doors closing at once, developers hunting for power, land, and water are expected to look harder at southeast Michigan and the I-94 and I-96 corridors, which is why the decisions below matter here.

Who decides: zoning, councils, utility regulators & permits

Zoning & Planning

Local Elected Body

County

State Utility Regulator

Electric Utility

Environmental, Water & Air Permits

Regional Grid Operator

Elections & Oversight

From across the HERE network

The case for and against

The case for data centers

  • Contracts that put costs on the developerState regulators say the Saline Township power contracts carry some of the strongest consumer protections in the country and project about $300 million a year in savings for other DTE customers, with the largest users first in line to be cut during grid emergencies. Supporters argue that model lets Michigan host big campuses without shifting the bill to households. Official reference
  • Jobs and tax baseThe Saline Township campus has put more than 1,800 skilled tradespeople on site, and its developer expects about 2,500 union construction jobs over the build. In Augusta Township, the developer pitched millions of dollars in tax revenue and new water and sewer lines that more residents could connect to. Official reference

The case against

  • Water, noise, and rural characterThe Augusta Township proposal was expected to use more than a million gallons of water a day, mostly for cooling, and neighbors raised noise, light, and farmland concerns. Nearly nine in ten voters said no, the clearest signal yet of how rural Washtenaw County feels about hyperscale campuses. Official reference
  • Rate risk and a fast-track approvalThe Attorney General argues the commission approved the Saline contracts without a contested case, that the contracts remain heavily redacted, and that claims of no rate impact have not been tested. That appeal is pending, so the question of who pays if a campus underuses its power or leaves early is still open. Official reference
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Updated weekly. Last updated Nov 6, 2026. Election results cited are unofficial until certified.

Questions & Answers

Data Centers Near Ann Arbor: FAQ

Who approves a data center rezoning near Ann Arbor?

Rezonings and site plans go through local land-use officials: in Ann Arbor that is Ann Arbor Planning Services, Augusta Charter Township, with Washtenaw County handling land outside city limits and county tax incentives. Planning commissions hold public hearings and recommend; the elected board casts the final vote.

Who approves large power contracts for data centers in Michigan?

The Michigan Public Service Commission is the state utility regulator. It reviews rates and the large-customer contracts and tariffs that utilities it oversees propose for data centers.

Which Michigan agency issues environmental permits for a data center?

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) issues the air, water, and wastewater permits a large facility needs, including permits for backup generators.

How can a Ann Arbor resident weigh in on a data center?

Speak or submit written comments at planning commission and council or board meetings, where agendas are posted in advance, and file public comments in utility cases at the state commission. The official links on this page go straight to those bodies.

What data center decisions are on file near Ann Arbor?

HERE Ann Arbor has reporting on file for Augusta Charter Township, Washtenaw County; Saline Township, Washtenaw County. Each entry on this page summarizes what was decided and by whom.

Who runs the power grid serving Ann Arbor?

Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) operates the regional grid and studies requests to connect large new loads such as data centers.

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Data Center Coverage Across HERE

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