Saline Township AI data center moves ahead despite local opposition

In short: A huge AI data center in rural Saline Township, Michigan is now being built, even after the township voted against rezoning the land and many residents protested.

What's going on

Saline Township, a small farming community about 40 minutes west of Detroit, is the site of a major AI data center project often called “Stargate.” A data center is a large building filled with computers that run online services. In this case, it is meant to support AI systems, the kind used for tools like chatbots.

The project is being developed by Related Digital, and it will host Oracle. OpenAI is described as a key client. Reports estimate the project could cost $7 billion to $10 billion, and cover hundreds of acres of former farmland.

Local government resistance has not stopped it. On Sept. 10, 2025, the township board voted 4 to 1 against rezoning about 575 acres from agricultural to industrial use. After lawsuits, the township reached a legal settlement, called a consent judgment, that allowed construction to move forward anyway.

A key piece is electricity. On Dec. 19, 2025, Michigan regulators approved a 19-year contract for DTE Energy to supply 1.4 gigawatts of power, which is roughly like the output of a nuclear reactor. Construction has been underway in early 2026 on at least about 250 acres along Michigan Avenue.

What to watch

Residents across political lines have organized to fight the project, citing noise, pollution risk, and the loss of long held farmland. Supporters point to construction jobs, a smaller number of permanent jobs, and new tax revenue for schools and local services. The next flashpoints are likely to be further court fights and whether the local power grid can handle such a large new customer without service problems.

Source: NYTimes