Members of Michigan's House Subcommittee on Oversight heard testimony on data centers, during which the Ford School's Ben Green was invited to offer his expertise. CBS Detroit, Bridge Michigan, and WWMT covered the meeting and Green's contributions.
"Michigan lawmakers take up ‘critically important' data center debate" Bridge Michigan, February 4, 2026 - Green discussed the pushback data centers have faced from Michiganders across the state. "We've seen organizing and heated debate and lots of resistance in communities across the state," said Green. He went on to highlight the negative impacts data centers have had on energy. Green cited strain on the electrical grid and higher utility bills resulting from data centers.
Commenting on Michigan laws that cut tax breaks for data centers, Green argued these are, "Bad deals for states and for citizens."
"Michigan lawmakers hear warnings that data center boom could raise bills and strain grid" WWMT, February 4, 2026 - WWMT focused strongly on Green's testimony of the impacts data centers have on electricity. Noting the great amount of electricity required to keep data centers operating around the clock, Green asserted a decline in energy reliability, especially during extreme weather.
"In a particularly hot or cold period, where the grid is strained, they [data centers] are not interested in shutting down to make sure that people can keep their heating or cooling on," Green told lawmakers.
"Michigan House subcommittee hears testimony on data centers" CBS Detroit, February 4, 2026 - "Data centers require incredible amounts of electricity, and this is straining the power grid in the regions where data centers are located," said Green. CBS Detroit also noted Green's sentiment on the data center tax breaks. Green declared a major increase in data center projects since 2024, when the tax breaks were passed.
