Data Center Information

Data Center Informational Sessions

• January 14th Data Center Informational Session YouTube Video
• January 28th Data Center Informational Session YouTube Video
• July 15th Data Center Informational Session YouTube Video
• Informational Session Presentation Slides

AI: Accurate Information

• What are the Township’s main concerns with the proposed data center?
  There are many unknown impacts regarding the environment, water, and wildlife. We know that Los Alamos partnering with U of M makes this proposed data center a tier one high value target for both domestic and foreign attacks.
• What is the current status of the proposed data center?
  Since the University of Michigan has failed to share any information about the status of this proposed project with Ypsilanti Township and community members, the current status is unknown. There are no requirements that U of M must share any details regarding the status of this proposed project with Los Alamos.
• What exactly is the proposed data center in Ypsilanti Township?
  U of M and Los Alamos are proposing building a computational center for nuclear research and development for the Department of War. Ypsilanti Township Officials are concerned with this proposal.
• How is this data center different from others?
  This data center, referred to U of M as a “computational center”, is a collaboration with the University and Los Alamos, a part of the Department of War. We will not have access to details of this operation since the project bypasses going through our Planning Department. The University of Michigan is exempt by the State of Michigan from paying any taxes.
• What impacts will the proposed data center have on the community?
  A data center will be devastating to the community. This project will impact home values, way of life, police and fire response, etc. U of M and Los Alamos will not contribute to taxes to fund first responders; Ypsilanti Township residents will shoulder the cost.
• Myth or Fact? The data center will bring major financial benefits to the Township.
  Data centers are being sold to communities as bringing in a lot of money for the community and jobs for residents. Since U of M and Los Almos are exempt from paying taxes, there is no money going to the community and the 200 jobs initially promised are closer to 35.
• What is your opinion on the proposed data center?
  In the beginning, U of M and Los Alamos promised 200 jobs on site. The initial land purchase was 20 acres. These details are no longer true. The relationship and experience Ypsilanti Township has had with with U of M and Los Alamos has not been a positive one.
• Why was Ypsilanti Township chosen as the site for the proposed data center?
  We believe Ypsilanti Township was chosen because historically, our area is the most marginalized area in terms of income, poverty, education, and a higher percentage of minorities. Ypsilanti Township has been singled out to build things that aren’t acceptable in Ann Arbor.
• Why does Ypsilanti Township oppose the proposed data center?
  This data center would be dangerous for our community. Los Alamos confirmed that the data center will be used for nuclear weapons research. This puts a target on Ypsilanti Township.
• Myth or Fact? There will be no nuclear materials at the data center, so there is nothing to worry about.
  No one knows for sure if there will be nuclear materials on site or not. Just as U of M is not required to pay property taxes on the land, they also are not required to undergo any kind of inspection of their Los Alamos facility.
• What can be done to stop the proposed data center?
  Other communities have stopped data centers by everyone working together on federal, state, county, and local levels. The people’s movement can stop U of M and Los Alamos from building this proposed data center in Ypsilanti Township.

Get Real. The YTown Perspective.

• Thoughts from Ypsilanti Township residents about University of Michigan’s proposed “data center” project with Los Alamos.
• Hear from Ypsilanti Township resident, Crystal, about her concerns and feelings on the proposed data center project.
• Is the University of Michigan above the law? Thoughts from Ypsilanti Township resident, Monica.
• Ypsilanti Township resident, Monica, shares what she loves about the community and her vision for the future of her family.
• The truth behind the 100-megawatt mystery? Thoughts from Ypsilanti Township resident, Dave.
• How Ypsilanti Township residents have been standing up against the proposed data center project.
• Another racist environmental experiment? Thoughts from Ypsilanti Township resident, Leah.
• Long time resident of Ypsilanti Township, David, shares his biggest concerns about the proposed data center including environmental impacts and lack of transparency of U of M and Los Alamos.

(June 24)
Dear Board Members,

Please find attached the letter I sent to your attention yesterday, along with a number of attachments, which was written in direct response to the erroneous and fallacious statements made by Washtenaw County Commissioner Justin Hodge on a two-page Facebook post. I have removed the attorney/client moniker from this letter, since this letter does not reveal any legal strategy, so as to allow the Board to post this letter, along with all of the attachments, on the Township's website if so desired. I would strongly recommend that, if this letter is posted, all of the attachments also be posted so as to be sure the reader has the documents referenced in the June 21st letter.

That being said, the one common refrain that we continue to hear from Township residents is that many of them simply "don't know what is going on" with these data centers and perhaps this letter will at least confirm the efforts of the Township Board to reach out to county, state, and federal elected officials for support which, to this date, has not been forthcoming except for State Representative Jimmie Wilson.

Wm. Douglas Winters

Letter from Douglas Winters Regarding Ongoing Pushback from County Commissioners

Related Press & Media Attached by Attorney Winters:

• Los Alamos confirms UMich data center to be used for nuclear weapons research
• Los Alamos Lab Banking on Plutonium “Pit” Production and New-Design Nuclear Warheads But Fights Against Cleanup
• Trump’s DoJ intervenes to back Elon Musk in datacenter pollution lawsuit
• UM tests American Center for Mobility site for supercomputer center

(April 15) In a Special Meeting on April 15th, Ypsilanti Township Board of Trustees voted in favor of Resolution 2026-08 requesting Ypsilanti Community Utility Authority (YCUA) to impose an immediate moratorium on services for data centers. On April 22nd, YCUA voted in favor of a 12-month moratorium of delivering, committing, reserving or approving water and sewer services to data centers and AI computing facilities.

(March 18 at 2:55pm) Supervisor Brenda L. Stumbo received a text message from Chris Kolb, the Vice President of Government Relations for University of Michigan, that the University had “Closed” on the purchase of the 124 Acre Parcel of Land on Textile Road which now brings the total acreage under control by U of M to be approximately 144 Acres.
Letter from the Office of McLain & Winters

(March 31) In a Special Meeting, Ypsilanti Township Board of Trustees voted in favor of Resolution 2026-05 Declaring Strong Opposition to Los Alamos National Laboratory Siting a Nuclear Research Facility Anywhere in Ypsilanti Township.

July 10th Letter from U of M President Dominico Grasso and LANL Director Thom Mason response to Congresswoman Debbie Dingell 
Refusing to let community concerns go unanswered, U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) is continuing to press for answers from the University of Michigan over the proposed Ypsilanti Township data center project. Congresswoman Dingell sent a letter on June 24 asking for responses to questions that local residents have had over escalating fears regarding infrastructure and quality of life—questions they have not been able to get answers to. 

As promised, Congresswoman Dingell is releasing the responses as soon as she received it, which was within the past hour today. Congresswoman Dingell continues to press for an in-person town hall between project leaders and the township due to lingering unanswered questions and unaddressed feelings.

U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) released responses from the University of Michigan and Los Alamos National Laboratory following her June 24 inquiry urging them to respond to Ypsilanti Township community concerns regarding the proposed data center project. 

Last month’s inquiry to University of Michigan President Dominico Grasso and Los Alamos National Laboratory Director Dr. Thom Mason followed growing concerns from community members that the project will adversely impact their local infrastructure and quality of life. This is the third letter Congresswoman Dingell has sent with the goal of gaining greater clarity for Michiganders asking similar questions about the project.

Jan 30th Letter from Congresswoman Dingell to U of M Interim President Grasso regarding the proposed U of M/Los Alamos Data Center Open House on Jan 29th

Letter from Washtenaw County Board Chair Katie Scott in response to Resolution 2026-05.

The University of Michigan and Los Alamos National Laboratory are collaborating to create a new facility for high-performance computing and AI research in Washtenaw County focused on science, energy, and national security. Find the latest information and frequently asked questions regarding the proposed data center on Textile at Bridge Road: High-performance computing facility with Los Alamos National Laboratory

What Happens When a Data Center Comes to Town? The rapid growth of data centers, with their enormous energy and water demands, necessitates targeted policy interventions to mitigate environmental impacts and protect local communities.

YCUA has added a webpage to maintain YCUA information on Data Centers including YCUA Resolution 26-08, quarterly updates, public notices, and technical resources.

Contact UM Board of Regents

Members of the University of Michigan community and the general public are welcome to submit video or written public comments to the Board of Regents that will be reviewed prior to each meeting through the UM Board of Regents website.

Apply to address the UM Board of Regents in-person during the public comment period. The deadline to sign up is 5:00pm on the Monday the week of the meeting.

Jordan B. Acker 248.483.5000
jbacker@umich.edu
Send a pre-filled Form Letter

Michael J. Behm 810.234.2400
mjbehm@umich.edu
Send a pre-filled Form Letter

Mark J. Bernstein
mjbern@umich.edu
Send a pre-filled Form Letter

Paul W. Brown 734.730.1077
pwb@umich.edu
Send a pre-filled Form Letter

Sarah Hubbard 517.853.1236
regenthubbard@umich.edu
Send a pre-filled Form Letter

Denise Ilitch
dilitch@umich.edu 
Send a pre-filled Form Letter

Carl J. Meyers 734.548.7800
cjmeyers@umich.edu
Send a pre-filled Form Letter

Katherine E. White 313.577.1054
kewhite@umich.edu
Send a pre-filled Form Letter

Contact Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners

Jason Maciejewski: maciejewskij@washtenaw.org
Crystal Lyte: lytec@washtenaw.org
Shannon Beeman: beemans@washtenaw.org
Caroline Sanders: sandersc@washtenaw.org
Justin Hodge: hodgej@washtenaw.org
Annie Somerville: somervillea@washtenaw.org
Andy LaBarre: labarrea@washtenaw.org
Yousef Rabhi: rabhiy@washtenaw.org
Katie Scott: scottk@washtenaw.org

Contact Michigan Leaders

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell
Senator Elissa Slotkin
Senator Gary Peters
Senator Jeff Irwin
Governor Gretchen Whitmer
Representative Jimmie Wilson Jr.

Form Letter Template to Copy & Paste
I am writing as a concerned citizen about the University of Michigan and Los Alamos National Laboratory’s proposed construction of two High-Performance Computing and Artificial Intelligence Research Centers at Bridge Road and Textile Road in Ypsilanti Township. On August 19, 2025, the Ypsilanti Township Board of Trustees unanimously passed Resolution 2025-23, urging all elected officials to oppose these projects at the proposed sites and instead support relocating them to the former General Motors Hydramatic property, where over 300 acres are available, including land currently leased to the American Center for Mobility.

The original site was 20 acres and supported 200 jobs across two buildings. Now, that same 20 acres is proposed to become a DTE substation and yard, located just 500 feet across from a low- to moderate-income housing community. This change raises serious concerns about environmental justice and the impact on nearby residents. The alternative location at ACM offers the necessary space without destroying over 100 acres of untouched land along the Huron River.

Image: ytown.link/Proposed-Site-Locations-ACM-UM-Aerial-Views

State Representative Jimmie Wilson Jr. has already voiced his opposition to the Bridge/Textile sites and supports relocation to the ACM Property. I urge you to join him and publicly support Resolution 2025-23.

Please help protect our community and environment by advocating for this relocation.

House Bill 4906 of 2023 (Public Act 207 of 2024)
House Bill 5362 of 2025

(August 11th) MLIVE:University of Michigan regent frustrated by Los Alamos Project's site search

(July 16th) MLive: Ypsilanti township’s opposition to University of Michigan, Los Alamos facility remains strong

(July 15th) WXYZ Detroit: Residents and officials push back on $1.25B University of Michigan data center plan

(June 29th) CBS News: Michigan lawmakers aim to end University of Michigan's exemption from local zoning rules

(June 25th) Representative Jason Morgan: Facebook Post

(June 24th) Dingell Demands U-M, Los Alamos National Laboratory Leadership Directly Respond to Longstanding Community Concerns on Proposed Data Center

(June 18th) Commissioner Annie Somerville: Facebook Post

(May 29th) Bridge Michigan: Biz leaders push data centers, warning Michigan may miss ‘golden ticket’

(May 27th) Bridge Michigan: ‘Devil’s in the details’ on data centers

(May 27th) Bridge Michigan: The facts about Michigan’s environment, data centers, dams

(May 27th) Bridge Michigan: What Michigan’s next governor plans for data centers, clean energy

(April 22nd) MLive: Los Alamos, University of Michigan supercomputing site faces water service moratorium

(April 17th) Planet Detroit: Ypsilanti water system to consider 12-month moratorium on supplying data centers

(April 16th) WEMU: Ypsilanti Township asks for YCUA's help to slow down U-M/Los Alamos project

(April 15th) MLive: Township approves water moratorium that could delay Los Alamos, University of Michigan site

(March 21st) 404Media: A Small US City Fears Iran Drone Strikes Because of New Nuclear Weapons Data Center

(March 18th) MLive: University of Michigan purchasing 124-acre possible site for Los Alamos project

(Mar 3rd) The Detroit News: Can UM ignore local zoning laws to build data center?

(Feb 27th) Crains Detroit: How Michigan became a major target for data centers

(Feb 10th) The Michigan Daily: UMich held a data center open house in Ypsilanti Township. Many residents still aren’t satisfied.

(Feb 10th) The Michigan Daily: The U-M data center meeting in Ypsilanti was never about community input

(Feb 3rd) MLive: University of Michigan, Los Alamos react to concerns over environmental impact, nuclear weapons

(Feb 2nd) Bridge Michigan: Data center moratoriums pile up in Michigan. No one knows if they’ll work.

(Jan 29th) Eastern Echo: Ypsilanti Township leaders raise concerns, seek answers on U-M, Los Alamos data center

(Jan 28th) WEMU: Huron River Watershed Council shares concerns over proposed U-M data center

(Jan 15th) MLive: Data center impact on environment, health among top concerns near Ypsilanti

(Dec 9th) The Michigan Daily - Letters to the Editor: Re: The U-M data center in Ypsilanti Township | From: Residents, faculty and community members

(Sept 10th) WEMU: U-M holds town hall on planned Ypsilanti Township facility