Data center developer defends Saline Twp. 'hyperscale' project | Opinion
ByJeff T. Blau
December 5, 2025
For more than half a century, Related Companies has built the communities and infrastructure that keeps our cities growing and resilient. Today, that same spirit of innovation is driving us forward as we begin the largest economic investment in Michigan history — the next-generation data center campus Related Digital is developing in Saline Township for Oracle and OpenAI as part of the previously announced Stargate initiative.
This project will create more than 2,500 good-paying, union construction jobs, as well as 450 permanent jobs onsite — with thousands more supported across Washtenaw County and the state. It will generate an estimated $8 million dollars annually in new tax revenues for Michigan schools, at least $1.6 million each year in direct tax revenue for Saline Township, and provide more than $14 million in direct community benefits, including new fire trucks and equipment, as well as funding for farmland preservation and community investment.
But this is far more than another construction project on a tight timeline. When we first began engaging with Saline Township around the project in July, many people asked why we needed to move quickly ― the truth is that America is in a global AI race.
We're paying our share
States across the country are competing to attract these projects ― not just for the jobs and new tax revenues they create — but to prove that America can still lead when it comes to building the infrastructure that powers the artificial intelligence and cloud technologies reshaping every industry. From health care to national defense, transportation to financial services, we want American companies to be able to compete and win. But we can’t do it without expedient investment in our technology infrastructure.
This does not mean that states cannot and should not have responsible checks on data center development. But under the leadership of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and a bipartisan coalition in the state Legislature, Michigan proactively put in place the appropriate framework for these projects, including incentives to attract this type of large economic investment and strong protections for citizens and specifically electricity ratepayers.
First, under Michigan law, electric rates paid by large data centers cannot be subsidized by other customers; the data center must pay a standard electric rate that reflects the full cost of serving them, as is the case here. DTE Energy is supplying 100% of the power to the project using existing resources augmented by a new battery storage investment — financed entirely by the project. And, DTE’s customers will actually benefit from the project contributing its share — projected to be approximately $300 million annually — to the fixed costs of maintaining and improving the grid. That results in a substantial affordability benefit for ratepayers that would otherwise not exist.
A sustainable build
Related Digital has also taken further important steps to ensure this project is built responsibly and sustainably.
For example, in contrast to other data centers proposed in the county, our project does not utilize water-intensive evaporative cooling technology that churns through millions of gallons of water a day. Our data center design uses a closed-loop, air cooling system, with the project using about the same amount of water as a standard office building. The campus will be built on just 250 of 575 total acres in Saline Township, with setbacks of at least 75 feet and substantial landscaping and screening. Finally, we are preserving hundreds of acres around the data center as farmland, wetlands, and open space.
The goal of this site planning is simple: To minimize impacts on critical resources, build with respect for the local landscape, and deliver a forward-looking development that offers lasting benefits to the community and local economy.
We recognize that some people still have concerns about data centers; the world around us is changing at an unprecedented pace. But one thing is clear — our adversaries around the world are not hesitating. They view our messy politics and reticence as an opportunity to gain a clear advantage. We simply cannot let that happen.
Michigan has always been a leader in building what’s next. With this project, the state has a chance to create thousands of high-quality jobs, substantial new tax revenues, and lasting local benefits; all while helping our nation compete in the global AI economy.
We’re committed to being a good neighbor, partner and a long-term investor in Michigan’s future. By working together, we can make Saline Township an example of how technology and community can thrive side by side.