@mlivenews: Across the country, a team of reporters in five states examined the tactics being used by developers to win the day against the rising local opposition to massive hyperscale data centers. In Michigan, the extreme secrecy around these proposals has left small town officials to take the heat, battered by friends and neighbors. “There were many times I would cry all day long at work,” said Lenox Township Clerk Michelle Gurley. “Like, what am I doing? This is not what we signed up for.” In the absence of a public face for the behemoth project, they’re left isolated and unable to answer residents’ questions. “I’m out there (at home) cutting the grass or pulling the weeds,” added Lenox Treasurer Jennifer Sutherland, “thinking that ‘Oh God, somebody hates me driving by now.’ It’s just horrible.” In West Michigan and elsewhere in the state, local officials have even been required to sign nondisclosure agreements, gagging them from sharing details with voters. And in Mason, a small city near Lansing, residents have also contended with a divisive data center project. “They want to stay anonymous,” said former Mason city council member Rita Vogel, “but put the burden on communities to have to deal with the strife, the public pushback, the ruined relationships.” Use the "read article" button to see the full article exploring the various tactics big tech developers are using to get what they want, and how residents are fighting back. #michigan #datacenters #development

MLive

Open In TikTok:

Region: US

Tuesday 06 October 2026 17:02:12 GMT