Data Center

Michigan Township Opposition Fails to Stop OpenAI Data Center

The facility was initially rejected by both the township board and planning commission.

Mira Bhakta

May 8, 2026 — 2 min read

Photo of Saline, Michigan.

May 8, 2026 – Public backlash and opposition from local officials have failed to stop construction of a massive OpenAI data center project in rural Michigan.

Construction is now underway in Saline on a major facility tied to the Stargate Project, a joint initiative between OpenAI and Oracle that aims to invest $500 billion in artificial intelligence infrastructure across the United States over the next four years.

The $16 billion development is expected to consume roughly 1.4 gigawatts of electricity, making it one of the largest AI-related infrastructure projects in the country.

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