Holding Data Centers Accountable

Protecting Michiganders & the Environment

As the growing data center industry sparks concerns for consumers, environmentalists, and communities across the state, Democratic legislators introduced legislation to ensure the sustainable development of these facilities and protect Michigan ratepayers, workers, and natural resources.

Protecting Our Water

Senate Bill 1046: Establish permitting requirements and public hearing guidelines for individuals who use over 550,000 gallons of water per day for consumptive use. It also enables the Michigan Dept. of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to monitor wastewater discharged from data centers.

Senate Bill 763: Protects residents from rate increases when data centers increase demand on water.

Safeguarding Energy Affordability & Reliability

Senate Bill 1047: Ensure Michigan residents and business’ electricity bills and service would not be impacted, require utilities to create a separate rate class for large-load customers, ensure they use clean energy, and limit operations during an energy emergency.

Backing Our Workers

Senate Bill 1048: Create labor protections for data center development, such as ensuring a union wage is paid, and a labor or collective bargaining agreement is made for the construction and operation of the facility.

Ensuring Transparency

Senate Bill 1049: Prohibit public employees and public officers from entering into non-disclosure agreements with data centers under certain conditions.

Senate Bill 762: Ensures transparency regarding the total energy expenditures and water usage of data centers.

Guaranteeing Public Benefit

Senate Bill 1050–51: Require an agreement between data center owners or operators and the local community prior to construction, ensuring the facilities will benefit residents’ health, safety, and general welfare, as well as the natural resources which surround them.

“In Michigan, we will set the terms for data centers who want to operate in our communities –– not big tech companies. If passed, this package would be the strongest package of data center regulations in the country. It says to any company that wants to build here: you can, but only if you don't raise our energy rates, you use 90% renewable energy, you don’t harm our water, you build with local union labor, and you deliver real, tangible benefits to the community you're joining — and be straight with that community about what you're doing. Build here, invest here –– but only if it serves the people of this state and not the other way around.”

"“America only works for the people when the people and not just the elite few are in charge. We’ve heard clearly from the people that they want accountability for hyper scale, data centers. Providing data on their energy and water use is an important part of holding data centers accountable to the promises they have made to our residents. In every decision, I ask myself, “is this good for the people of Michigan?” Holding data centers accountable so that they do not harm our residents is good for our Michigan families.” Sen. Shink

"I am proud to join my colleagues on this legislation to protect our residents and the environment from the harm of large-scale data centers. My bill prohibits companies from passing water infrastructure improvement costs to residential ratepayers. Michigan communities should not be forced to subsidize the costs associated with the rapid expansion of data centers. These bills send a clear message—growth cannot come at the expense of our communities."

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