Michigan Township Opposition Fails to Stop OpenAI Data Center

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.

The facility was initially rejected by both the township board and planning commission last September over concerns about environmental impacts, energy demand and disruption to the surrounding rural community. But after the developer filed suit, the township reached a settlement that allowed the project to proceed.

Residents opposing the project say many people do not fully understand the scale of what is being built.

“I feel like people don’t understand what’s coming,” Kathryn Haushalter, a resident of Saline, said. Haushalter, who lives across from the site, warned of construction disruption and potential environmental consequences.

Fred Lucas, township attorney, said opposition among local officials had been widespread.

Developers defended the project, arguing the area was selected because of existing transmission infrastructure and available electrical capacity needed to support large-scale AI computing operations.

A spokesperson for Related Digital, the real estate development firm leading the project in Saline, said there was a clear national imperative, describing the project as part of a broader push to strengthen American technology leadership.

Across Michigan, where communities are increasingly pushing back against rapid data center expansion. As of February, at least 19 municipalities had enacted moratoriums on new data center development.

County officials and state lawmakers have also weighed broader restrictions, though Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and legislative leaders have opposed a proposed statewide pause.