Local Boards Advance Large-Scale Data Center Projects in Michigan and Tennessee

Municipal planning bodies in two states advanced large-scale data center projects this week, balancing industrial development with local environmental and utility concerns. In Lansing, Michigan, the Planning Commission voted 5-2 on March 4 to recommend the approval of a rezoning request for a 24-megawatt facility. The project, proposed by Deep Green, would be located at the intersection of South Cedar and East Kalamazoo streets. This vote reverses a December rejection after the company committed to specific noise limits and environmental designs, including a fuel cell facility operated by Bloom Energy. The recommendation now moves to the Lansing City Council for a final vote expected in April.

Simultaneously, the Franklin Planning and Zoning Commission in Tennessee unanimously approved a preliminary development plan for a $1.6 billion project off I-65 on Steele Road. TenKey LandCo, LLC intends to build three 200,000-square-foot facilities on 200 acres. The approval followed a contentious four-hour meeting where residents raised concerns regarding energy grid strain and utility rates. To secure the vote, TenKey agreed to monthly public updates, water usage caps, and detailed stormwater plans. The project remains subject to an ongoing lawsuit between the developer and the Simpson County Fiscal Court over conditional use permit requirements.