Plans for a Stargate data center have met opposition in Saline Township, Michigan.

The 250-acre, 1.4GW data center has been controversial since its inception.

Developed by Related Digital in collaboration with OpenAI and Oracle as part of the latter’s Stargate Project, Saline Township initially rejected the proposal back in August.

But the developer filed a lawsuit alleging that the township’s decision constituted exclusionary zoning, and in October, the township settled by allowing the proposal to go forward, provided the data center adhered to certain requirements.

Opposition to the project has become increasingly organized, with residents coordinating amongst themselves on a Facebook group titled ‘Protect Saline Township - No Data Center.’

Since the project has been approved by the township, focus has now turned to the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC), a statewide utility regulatory agency responsible for deciding whether to approve “special contracts” for electric service signed between the data center and its chosen utility, DTE Electric.

Yesterday, hundreds of locals joined a virtual public hearing between the pair, and residents are also set to join the MPSC’s regular meeting on Friday.

Opposition is also no longer a grassroots affair. Local politicians have honed in on the question of whether the MPSC should conduct a ‘contested hearing’ or a fast-tracked process when considering DTE’s application.

Yesterday, 23 Michigan State Representatives issued a co-signed letter to the chair of the MPSC requesting the regulator conduct a ‘contested hearing,’ arguing that the longer process would be beneficial to the public interest by giving ratepayers the opportunity to directly challenge the information provided by DTE.

Data centers have become a nationwide policy issue as demand for computing capacity pushes operators out of traditional hotspots and into new markets, sparking concerns about the potential impact on utility rates, the environment, and procedural anonymity in the planning process.