Ypsilanti Township Limits Data Center Locations Amid Growing Proposals for Hyperscale Facilities

Ypsilanti Township has enacted new regulations restricting data center construction to land designated for industrial and commercial revitalization uses. The Board of Trustees unanimously voted on December 16 to amend the zoning ordinance, reflecting a response to the rising number of proposals for large hyperscale data centers in Michigan.

Under the new rules, data centers are prohibited in other zoning areas. The move comes as demand for larger facilities increases due to advancements in artificial intelligence and computing technologies, which require more electricity and water.

The township is also opposing a proposed high-performance computing facility by the University of Michigan in partnership with Los Alamos National Laboratory on Textile Road. Additionally, Michigan Rep. Jimmie Wilson Jr. has introduced a bill to rescind a $100 million grant awarded to the university for the project, which has been criticized by university officials as based on inaccurate information.