Microsoft puts data center proposal on hold in Michigan after public protests; sends letter saying: We believe it is important to ...

Software giant Microsoft has confirmed that it is the company behind a proposed data centre project in Michigan that has faced opposition from local residents. The company identified itself in a letter released on Wednesday (January 7), days after public protests led local officials to pause the project. “We are introducing ourselves now because we have observed that the community would like more information about the proposal, and we believe it is important to be transparent about our intentions moving forward,” Microsoft said in the letter. “We asked the seller to pause the rezone process so that we could spend time with the community early this year and share more about our potential long-term plans before we proceed,” the letter said. The proposed data centre is planned on a 237-acre site in Lowell Charter Township, located near Interstate 96, about 20 miles southeast of Grand Rapids. The township said the project could bring between $500 million and $1 billion in investment over three to five years. The land, currently zoned for industrial planned development, would need to be rezoned to light industrial. The planning commission is scheduled to meet again on January 12.The company’s cloud infrastructure team was named in a letter published by the township, ending weeks of speculation over the identity of the developer working with Franklin Partners, an Illinois-based firm. Franklin had earlier said it was partnering with a US-based national company. Local opposition grew in December, when a public hearing on rezoning the land was postponed after residents voiced concerns at a planning commission meeting.The project had drawn attention after residents raised concerns over zoning changes, energy use and water supply. Following the backlash, Microsoft said it asked for the rezoning process to be paused while it engages with the community.Residents said the township was moving too quickly without clarity on power and water needs. After the meeting was cancelled, local officials said they would temporarily halt progress on the proposal. In its letter, Microsoft said it wanted to be transparent and engage with residents before moving forward.