By Kyle Jackson
On April 15, the Gaines Township Planning Commission held a public hearing about rezoning recently purchased land by Microsoft from residential to light industry, which would allow for an AI data center in Gaines Township.
Commissioners stated at the end that they wanted a “more thorough agreement” with Microsoft before taking up the ordinance for a future meeting.
According to an article from “howstuffworks,” a data center is a physical location that stores computing machines and their related hardware equipment. It contains the computing infrastructure that IT systems require, such as servers, data storage drives, and network equipment. It is the physical facility that stores a company’s digital data.
Recently, concerns have been raised about community impacts near AI data centers, primarily, rising electricity costs, waste, and water usage.
Over 600 participants attended the event, the majority of whom were from Gaines Township who live within one mile of the proposed location.
The panel was composed of Dan Wells, the Community Development Director for Gaines Township, along with the township attorney, and other members of the Gaines Township Planning Commission.
The panel began the hearing by allowing for non-agenda related comments from the public.
Wells jokingly said, “If you want to let us know how much you appreciate the new fire truck for the Gaines Fire Department…”
Those who commented during this time expressed concerns about recent drag racers and other potential concerns.
However, there were still some who spoke out against the actions of Microsoft during this time.
“I can’t believe that you’re trying to do the right thing,” one commenter said. “You want your jobs? Do what the community is asking you to do. Wipe the smug face off, because you do work for us. Why are you smug to all these people? Why would you act that way to all these people who live in this community?”
After beginning comments, Wells motioned for the present Microsoft representatives to present their concepts for the land.
Currently, the newly purchased land is located next to the Amazon fulfillment center and Steelcase wood plant, on 68th Street. The Microsoft representative, who remained anonymous during the talk, chose to highlight potential community benefits and current means of addressing major concerns.
As explained in a pamphlet posted by Microsoft, the company is claiming this data center would not increase electric costs, while replenishing more water than it uses, creating local jobs, adding to the tax base that helps fund local schools, libraries, hospitals, and parks, and offering AI training in schools.
However, it would seem that both the representative and the pamphlet failed to fully describe how each goal would be achieved, since only partial information was given. This only further fueled the public debates later.
In addition to addressing major concerns, the representative stated that the construction of the data center would follow additional guidelines, such as keeping the noise to a minimum.
However, this doesn’t account for pitches that humans can’t hear.
One member from Microsoft laughed in response to a public comment made about the impacts of consistently high-pitched frequencies on children.
When opened back to public comment, a large portion of people lined up to speak, wrapping around the back of the auditorium.
Public comments lasted for hours, as the majority of people who spoke took a stance against the installation of a data center.
“I’m not anti-Microsoft, but (everything) that they have done is (only) what Microsoft wants to do with this property,” said a Gaines Township community member who refused to give their name.
Similar to other speakers, this speaker expressed his concerns about future problems as a result of the data center.
“So when you build a retention pond full of water, and it overflows into the drain, which I pay to have cleaned, into the school drain that I pay to have cleaned, and I have to pay for a road cover so my property doesn’t flood, who’s going to take care of this? Is Microsoft? No!” the man said, “Gaines Township hasn’t done it for 30 plus years!”
Those who were for the data center argued that it would help Gaines Township further expand and open up more steady jobs for people who are temporarily employed.
Representative Angela Rigas for Gaines Township was also present and voiced her concerns.
“We don’t trust the big corporations, we don’t trust the things we read online, you can get on TikTok and see this information, only to discover that their IP addresses are out of China,” Rigas said during her initial time. “We just want the correct information. (I)t’s a fundamental duty of this commission to work together with the people who live here to decide what our community should look like. That power belongs here, with you, not with politicians, not with lobbyists, not a corporate workroom. I want this board to listen to the voices in this room and to the residents of this community because they absolutely deserve to be heard.”
Unfortunately, her statement was cut short, and she later finished her speech in an interview with the Collegiate after the meeting.
“I personally requested a simple chart comparing water usage between data centers, car washes, and farm irrigation pivots so we can see the numbers in real perspective,” Rigas said. “I still have yet to receive that satisfactory answer. The same goes for noise complaints comparison. This basic information should’ve been placed in our communities’ hands a full year ago. Tech companies across the country need to do a better job engaging with communities upfront, not after the plans are already in place.
Rigas continued, “I was glad to see Microsoft acknowledge this issue, and I believe more companies should follow that lead. At the local level, we need our leaders to help us cut through the noise and get to the real facts. I sincerely hope that some of these things have been achieved tonight at this meeting. I appreciate Gaines Township, and their planning commission, and their willingness to expand the venue.”
Rigas later said that she believes that “this debate is healthy.”
“Do you think the founding fathers just sat silently and signed the Declaration of Independence?” Rigas said, “No! They fought.”
“I think the township officials don’t realize that this is affect more that just them,” said Sarah Lexow, a local from Kentwood. “ It’s not just affecting the citizens of this town, it’s affecting everyone in the area, it’s affecting everyone in Michigan.”
“I am seeing the cost financially, and I don’t want to see the cost ecologically, environmentally.” Lexow said, “And someone who’s wanted to move to this area, as soon as I told my husband that they were putting one in, he said ‘I guess we’ll look somewhere else.’”
