Overview
- At Oakland Community College in Auburn Hills, environmental groups rallied and speakers urged limits on data centers, citing threats to the Great Lakes, groundwater and energy affordability.
- Chair Dan Scripps said the Legislature has not empowered the MPSC to regulate data center water use, though existing statutes and 2023 clean‑energy laws require consideration of equity, public health and cost‑shifting.
- The hearing focused on integrated resource plan guidelines that will shape how utilities meet rising electricity demand from energy‑ and water‑intensive data centers.
- Commenters questioned whether expanding such facilities is compatible with Michigan’s 2040 clean‑energy target.
- Critics also faulted 2024 tax incentives for courting data centers without safeguards for ratepayers or water, as the commission pursues a case with Consumers Energy on who bears any added costs.