Fight against datacenter in Michigan has become so bitter that the Township treasurer resigned in tears and a photograph of Oracle datacenter inauguration ceremony were used to …
A proposed AI data center in Michigan has reportedly sparked growing opposition. A report claims that the resistance to it has become so intense that the township treasurer resigned in tears during a public meeting. As the debate over the project escalates, community leaders in Ypsilanti township have projected a photograph from the inauguration ceremony of an Oracle and OpenAI data center in a neighbouring township throughout its public meeting, using it as a symbol of their opposition while vowing to “fight to our very last breath” against a similar facility planned in their community.The proposed data center in Ypsilanti Township, backed by the University of Michigan and Los Alamos National Laboratory, would run simulations to support the US nuclear weapons program. According to a report by 404 Media, the township’s residents have also raised concerns over electricity demand, water consumption, noise and the project’s broader impact on the community.
How Oracle data center inauguration photo becomes focus of Ypsilanti Township meeting
During a three-hour public meeting, a photograph from earlier this month showing the groundbreaking ceremony of the Oracle and OpenAI Stargate data center in nearby Saline Township remained projected behind the township board.The image showed Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer alongside Oracle executive Clay Magouyrk. Community members repeatedly referred to the photograph while criticising the state’s support for AI infrastructure projects.The Saline Township project has also faced strong opposition. According to residents, the dispute became so bitter that the township treasurer resigned in tears during a public meeting in May.The groundbreaking also drew attention after a video appeared to show Whitmer telling Magouyrk, “We’re used to people saying no, and doing it anyway.” However, Whitmer’s office has denied she made the remark.Cilla Cresswell, who recorded the video, addressed the Ypsilanti Township meeting, saying, “I was standing just to the left, right there. I was there. I recorded that clip [… ] I was right there. And they want to say it’s fake, but I just want to let you guys know it’s real. You can play it on my camera.”Douglas Winters, a lawyer representing Ypsilanti Township, also referred to the projected image and said, “You have people in that photograph worth billions of dollars. Not just millions, we’re talking trillions. Soon to be trillionaires. Yet this state, in its zeal to become the data capital of the country, has extended unprecedented tax credits to the richest corporations in the world.”Resident Laura Witowski added, “Having to stare at this picture during this meeting has my blood boiling. I did not realise how emotional I would be. The waste of space. The complete lack of regard for humans and animals and for what?”
Ypsilanti Township vows to keep fighting against the data centre project
Residents urged local officials to oppose the project through every available legal avenue. A resident named Jane Wolf said, “Put yourselves on the line. Those people will listen to you better than they will listen to us. Please put yourselves, your jobs, and your comfort on the line to stop this for us. Get creative. Tear up the road. Block the road. Break the law. Do whatever you need to do for us. You will be remembered better in history for the job that you did if you can get creative and really put yourselves out there.”Another resident Jill Warren encouraged others to delay the project through administrative processes. She said, “Simply slow things down bureaucratically. Make sure we block where we can. Use very slow agendas and response times, and, within your power, do the work you are entitled to do. For those who aren’t familiar with it, please look up the Simple Sabotage Field Manual and use it in your own lives of action as well […] they may not care about us, but we care about us and we’re here and we’ll continue to be here and support the work that you’re doing on our behalf.”Township Supervisor Brenda Stumbo also pledged continued opposition to the project. She said, “This is going to harm our community in our future. We will fight to our very last breath, but we need help. And we need it from the people who have the power to stop things.”“Now we know and we’re thankful for the residents and non-residents that came to our meetings early and told us, ‘don’t trust UofM.’ We do not love nor do we appreciate what the board or regents are doing to our community. It needs to stop. And everyone that showed up here today, we greatly appreciate it and we will keep going, like everyone has said, by doing it together […] I will stand with you. I will fight with you. And I know this entire board and our Township attorney will as well. So let’s keep doing it together,” Stumbo added.Earlier this year, the township approved a 365-day moratorium on supplying water to data centers while it studies how hyperscale facilities could affect the local water supply. In response, the University of Michigan threatened legal action, arguing that withholding water from the proposed AI data center amounted to unlawful discrimination.
