By Jennifer Eberbach | jeberbach@mlive.com
Publication Date: 2025-11-17 15:22:00
SALINE TWP., MI – A massive data center for ChatGPT developer OpenAI and multinational technology company Oracle is rapidly progressing in rural Michigan.
It sparks a conflict between the way of life of a small farming town and Big Tech’s push to develop artificial intelligence and cloud computing infrastructure.
As part of what one activist called a global “AI arms race,” developer Related Digital is building a 2.2 million-square-foot data center for the tech giants on about 250 acres of a 575-acre site in Saline Township. It will transform farmland on West Michigan Avenue, east of Rustic Glen Golf Course and partially along the Saline River.
Saline Township leaders faced backlash for settling a lawsuit from the developer and landowners rather than fighting it, allowing the project to move forward.
DTE Energy is also pushing for speed. The utility has asked state regulators to speed up the approval of special contracts to meet the energy needs of the…
