Ypsilanti Township Water Authority Votes 12-Month Moratorium on Data Center Supply
The Ypsilanti, Michigan water system has approved a 12-month moratorium on supplying water to data centers, a direct response to the University of Michigan and Los Alamos National Laboratory's proposed $1.2 billion supercomputing facility on a site along the Huron River in Ypsilanti Township. The project, which opponents describe as a national security data center for nuclear weapons research, has drawn intense resistance from residents and local officials who say they were informed of key developments, including the university's land purchase, via informal channels rather than formal consultation. The Ypsilanti Township board subsequently passed a resolution giving full support to opposition against the facility, citing concerns about water usage, environmental impact, and the community bearing costs that primarily benefit others. Critics also argue that the project, a joint effort between U-M and Los Alamos, has been publicly framed in ways that downplay its data center classification. The moratorium is now in effect, and the township's formal opposition resolution is on record, with a community town hall scheduled to address outstanding concerns.