The developer of an OpenAI and Oracle data center under construction in Saline Township, Michigan, recently announced that the project will have a $16 billion price tag. The new figure is more than double the $7 billion estimate originally unveiled when the project was announced in 2025 and has sparked concerns among Michigan residents.
According to reports, developer Related Digital has backing from companies such as Blackstone and Bank of America and plans to create one of the largest data centers in the United States. The project is already under construction and is expected to comprise three single-story data center buildings with a combined capacity of more than 1 gigawatt. Related Digital did not disclose why the recent price had such a discrepancy when compared to the original figures.
Ever since the project was announced, it has faced opposition from locals. Back in September 2025, the local board voted 4-1 to deny rezoning the land for the project. However, Related Digital and its investors sued, and a judge allowed the project to proceed.
Local utility company DTE Energy will be the sole energy supplier for the data center, using Oracle’s support to expand its battery storage capacity. DTE Energy has also claimed that it will not increase energy prices for “at least two years” if the project becomes operational by the end of 2027.
Michigan Residents Criticize Policies Regarding Data Centers
Michigan residents were far from thrilled about the prospect of living near the data center and were already dreading the many problems it could bring to their lives: “Can’t wait for a distant insufferable ringing and the surrounding area to rise in temperature multiple degrees because of the heat generated,” one user lamented.
Another person said, “Data centers consume the electrical power of around 100,000 homes. It’s like adding a medium-sized city to the grid for each data center built. The data center gets a negotiated, favorable bulk rate for the electricity they use, and ratepayers pay to augment the generating & reserve capacity to provide that electricity.”
Multiple residents were irritated by the prospect of paying for increased energy demand. One local expressed concern: “At least DTE customers get ‘at least 2 years’ of rate relief before there are inevitable price hikes in relation to the data center. But data centers don’t increase rates for customers and never cause health issues to the general public. Right?”
Some people even criticized the Michigan governor, who recently supported the construction of data centers in the state: “Thanks, Gretchen, for making us one of the first. Hang the banner.”
While it is far from certain that these new data centers will cause significant issues for residents, people across the country have often raised concerns about their construction, so it is unlikely this will be the last time they are criticized.
