More data center coverage dominated by a corporate perspectives in West Michigan

Last month I wrote a piece about how the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce has publicly endorsed Data Centers. I cited a recent report from Data Center Watch there has been $64 billion of data center projects that have been blocked because communities have become organized.

Two weeks ago I wrote a piece about the GR Chamber of Commerce annual Policy Conference, where they hosted a panel of pro-data center apologists. Last week I wrote about how Doug DeVos thinks that AI and Data Centers would be ok, as long as Christians were in charge of them.

In the past few days Crain’s Grand Rapids Business has posted three stories on data centers that are working looking at. The first article is entitled, Michigan’s data center boom offers a lifeline to construction companies post-EV bust. The article is essentially presenting the idea that since the EV projects across the state did not work out for the construction industry, data centers might provide them with construction contracts. The article make this point by talking about data center construction opportunities:

Outlays for general office projects have headed downward, while construction spending for data centers has climbed steadily, U.S. Census data shows. The two crossed paths in December, with roughly $3.57 billion spent on data centers that month, compared with $3.49 billion for offices, according to preliminary estimates.

The article also tells us that Consumers Energy ( a major beneficiary of data centers) commissioned the Anderson Economic Group to craft a study about the economic impact of data center construction. This is always the argument that development projects will “benefit the economy” when in fact the disproportionate beneficiaries are developers and other members of the Capitalist class.

A second article about data centers was posted on March 23rd, with the headline, Construction leaders counter claims that data center jobs are only short-term. This article also touts the economic impact of data centers, using the Anderson Economic Group study once again, but also including support from the West Michigan Plumbers, Fitters and Service Trades Local Union No. 174.

This Crain’s article also cited the senior director of government affairs and infrastructure at Microsoft, said during a March 6 conference in Grand Rapids. This was the same conference that had nothing but pro-data center panelists.  In addition, the article cites the president of the Fisen Corporation, which also attributes their recent growth to data centers.

The third and final Crain’s article that focused on data centers is entitled, AI’s expanding footprint comes with a big thirst for water. The headline suggests that there should be public concern, but the article primarily relies on businesses that benefit from data centers, a few government spokespersons and several environmental organizations.

The article also includes lots of data and several graphics on data centers and water use, but there are two important things that are omitted from this article. First, while the article acknowledges that the more recent proposed data center projects will be much larger that other existing ones on Michigan, there is no real conversation or analysis about land use. For instance, Microsoft purchased 340 acres in Gaines Township for a proposed data center, 272 acres in nearby Dorr Township and is pursuing a 237-acre property in Lowell Township. Those three combined would mean that Microsoft will own and control 849 acres in Kent County, all land that is either currently unused or farmland.

There was one useful graphic included (above) in the Crain’s article, which compared how much water data centers use with how much water is used by power plants to generate data center electricity. This is essential public information, which speaks not only to the concerns about the electric grid in Michigan, but how it will further impact the cost of electricity for residents in Michigan.

Lastly, it is important to note that the readership of Crain’s Grand Rapids Business is primarily members of the business sector, most of which support data centers. The other commercial news media sources in West MI are not dedicating enough coverage to this issue, beyond the drama of public meetings. We need lots more public conversation and public awareness around data centers and not leave decisions in the  hands of corporations and politicians.