Resources for Communities & Officials
Planning, Community Engagement and Local Decision Making
These resources provide a comprehensive starting point for local officials, planners and community members evaluating data center proposals.
Understanding Water Usage
Explains that data centers use water primarily for cooling but are designed to minimize impact by selecting efficient cooling methods based on location, using alternative or recycled water sources when possible, and committing to responsible sourcing so operations don’t strain local water supplies.
Energy Use & Grid Impacts
This fact sheet explains that Michigan has sufficient, reliable energy capacity to support large new developments such as data centers and outlines how a diverse energy mix, long-term planning, and infrastructure investments will drive economic growth, maintain affordability, and meet future demand responsibly.
An independent power-sector consultancy’s analysis of data centers and electricity rates, finding no quantitative evidence that data centers have been subsidized by other ratepayers and detailing the new utility tariffs designed to manage rapid load growth.
Noise Mitigation
A practical guide on noise ordinance design, acoustic standards including ISO 9613-2, and the framework communities should use for pre-approval risk assessment, post-construction monitoring, and compliance verification.
As data centers expand, the electric infrastructure supporting them (already widely used to power homes and businesses) is safe and well-regulated, with research showing no proven health risks from EMFs and ongoing efforts to minimize noise and community impact.
This fact sheet explains that data center noise primarily comes from equipment such as cooling systems, generators and vehicles, and outlines how facilities are designed and operated to minimize sound through infrequent generator use, sound attenuation, and quieter technologies.
Economic Impact
A comprehensive Michigan-focused report covering the economic benefits of data centers, energy use, environmental / community impact, and tax issues, with policy recommendations for state and local decision-makers.
An independent, nonpartisan analysis concluding that data center proposals should be judged case-by-case, that economic benefits are modest and concentrated in construction.
PwC’s state-by-state economic contribution analysis of the U.S. data center industry for 2023–2024, covering direct and indirect jobs, GDP, and tax revenue across all 50 states, including Michigan.
PwC’s economic contribution analysis of the data center industry from 2017–2023 nationally, with state-level breakdowns for 2022–2023, showing industry tax contributions rose 146% over the period.
