No Lowell Data Center
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In January, 2025 elected officials from the Township and City signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement with Microsoft to lay the groundwork for an Artificial Intelligence Data Center development across from Heidi's farmstand in Lowell, MI
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In March 2025, the Planning Commission and Board quietly amended the zoning ordinance to allow AI Data Center development in the I-PUD zoning district
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In January 2026, the Planning Commission attempted to REPEAL material community protections (see zoning ordinance) contained in the I-96 Planning Area and I-PUD from the zoning ordinance.
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The Township Supervisor has publicly said that regardless of the number of people that speak out against it, he supports the project...
The Township has been quietly working on this with Microsoft for nearly 2 years and in that time has amended ordinances in an attempt to fast track this development for the benefit of Microsoft.
Check out the timeline and Lowell Resources for more information.
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Join the mailing list (below)!
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Complete the community survey
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Write and call your Township Board, Planning Commission, and City Council members - consider using the draft email template on the action page
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Check the events page for upcoming Board and Planning Commission meetings and speak out!
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Familiarize yourself with 'Lowell Resources'
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Understand the real-world impacts of AI and limit its use
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Talk to your neighbors
Energy and Water
- 1 AI Data Center can consume all the energy from multiple nuclear power plants (source)
- Michigan currently at High Risk of grid capacity shortfall, increasing the risk of blackouts (source)
- High demand, low supply, inadequate infrastructure = increased costs (source)
- The Administration's 'Ratepayer Protection Pledge' and Microsoft's 'Datacenter Community Pledge' and not legally binding and do not go far enough.
- Across Michigan, data centers will consume billions of gallons of fresh water annually (source)
- Michigan's future water and energy security are at risk
Community Impact
- Decisions to permit this Data Center is being made by a few in the community, not the majority
- Individuals negotiating potential development agreements will not adequately protect the communities interests or allow for meaningful community input
- Some board members are perceived to have potential conflicts of interest in adjacent properties
- Not aligned with Lowell's Master Plan
- < 50 permanent local jobs created
- NOT a welcoming first impression of Lowell
- Future dependence on data center revenue, influencing future land use planning, investments and risk of more data centers being built
- Billions of dollars of equipment, replaced every 1-3 years will be exempt from MI sales and use taxes (source)
- Risk of decreased property value
Noise, Light, Odor Pollution
- Elected officials signed NDA’s with Microsoft to discreetly fast track zoning and permitting
- Constant, low frequency noise and vibration from colling units (source)
- Brightly lit, high security, 24/7
- Dozens of massive generators tested monthly
- No transparency, no trust
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Significant job displacement (source)
- Damaging impacts to youth and mental health (source)
- Non-existent regulation or oversight
- Privacy, surveillance and vulnerability concerns
- Powerful disinformation tools threaten American democracy
- Hi-tech billionaire profit motive
- The risks and impacts are greater than the rewards for humanity
- Requires extremely natural resource intensive AI data centers