State Rep. Jennifer Wortz today unveiled a plan that would temporarily halt the construction of data centers in the state, giving residents the time they need to adequately voice their concerns about these developments.

House Bills 5594-5596 would halt the construction of new data centers in the state of Michigan until April 1, 2027. The moratorium will be put in place to give local communities the ability to assess the ramifications of these projects before moving forward, ensuring that concerned community members can thoroughly identify and discuss the potential issues and challenges.

“Many rural communities just feel like they’re being invaded,” said Wortz (R-Quincy). “Endless solar panels, wind farms, battery storage facilities, and now data centers are being proposed, often with little to no local input and oversight. Data centers come with a lot of unique questions. Between the land being cleared for development, the demand for energy they will add to the grid, and the tremendous water usage, these projects could cost communities more than they are worth. I grew up on a farm, I own a farm, I’m a conservationist, and I understand the importance of proper land management. We can’t continue to allow our farmground and natural resources to be mindlessly destroyed.”

The three bills, which were sponsored by Wortz, Rep. Joseph Fox (R-Fremont) and Rep. Dylan Wegela (D-Garden City), would create a new act titled the “Data Center Regulation Act.” The act would prohibit new data centers from receiving state or local permits or commencing operations until April 1, 2027. Wortz highlighted the temporary nature of the moratorium, and the need for immediate action given the scale and nature of the projects.

“Only a few weeks ago, a Michigan judge ruled that the residents of Saline Township were not able to intervene in the construction of a data center in their town,” Wortz said. “Hyperscale data centers are very large. The proposed data center in Saline will occupy 250 acres. A facility that size can only be built where large amounts of land, water, and power are available. The proposed data center in Saline Township would use 1,400 megawatts of electricity. That is equal to the same amount needed to power 1 million homes, or the entire city of Detroit. As technology continues to advance, data centers will be needed, and some townships will decide that it’s right for their people, but we need to give them more time to examine these challenges before plunging headfirst into hyperscale projects.”

HB 5594-5596 were referred to the House Committee on Government Operations for consideration.