GR Chamber of Commerce continues to promote data centers and is now part of a pro-data centers coalition that wants to shove data centers down our throat

Earlier this year GRIID posted a story about how the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce has taken a pro-data center position, despite significant public obligation around the country and in West Michigan.

In March, the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce hosted a pro-data center panel discussion during their annual Policy Conference. And just last week the GR Chamber posted an article entitled, DATA CENTERS ARE COMING. LET’S GET IT RIGHT.

The GR Chamber article was short and it essentially relied on the talking points of an organization called the Michigan for Responsible Data Center Coalition. What the GR Chamber article doesn’t tell you is that the Michigan for Responsible Data Center Coalition is made up exclusively of pro-data center groups. In fact, the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce is a member of this “coalition”, along with the Right Place Inc., which has been a champion of data center projects in West Michigan. When you look at the groups that are part of this so-called coalition you will see several labor groups included. However, those labor groups are merely hoping to get contracts regardless of the ecological consequences of data centers, how they perpetuate increased utility costs and are increasingly used by the US military and private companies that assist ICE in tracking and targeting undocumented immigrants.  

In addition, the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce is promoting an event on September 16 hosted by Crain’s Grand Rapids Business, an event entitled – West Michigan’s Data Center Dynamics. The event’s keynote speaker is Randy Thelen the President & CEO, The Right Place Inc. who has been the most influential cheerleader for data centers in West Michigan. The Right Place Inc. was even the target of a protest by several community groups resisting data centers in West Michigan in June.

Besides Thelen, there will be a panel discussion at the event on September 16, featuring people who are pro-data center:

• Daniel Watts, CEO, US Signal
• Lauren Snyder, Senior Vice President and Chief Customer and Growth Officer, Consumers Energy
• Jacob Kulhanek, Senior Vice President & Operations Leader, The Christman Company
• Natalie Mitchell, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Campus Development, Switch
• Dan Wells, Community Development Director, Gaines Township

I messaged Crain’s Grand Rapids Business to see if they were allowing independent media to attend and they said I was welcome to attend if I paid the $110 registration fee.