Saline Township

Project Overview

 

Related Digital is developing a data center project on 250 acres of land in Saline Township that will deliver over 1 GW of capacity. The multi-billion-dollar investment in Michigan will create more than 2,500 union construction jobs, more than 450 jobs onsite, 1500 jobs county-wide, as well as thousands more indirect jobs across Michigan and the U.S.

The Saline Township project—dubbed the ‘The Barn’ for the historic red barn being preserved by the entrance to the site—consists of three 550,000 square-feet single-story buildings.

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–in a way that ensures there is no impact on DTE’s existing customers’ energy supply or rates. In fact, DTE’s customers will benefit from the project, contributing its share to the fixed costs of maintaining and improving the grid.

Responsible Development

Related Digital’s data center project is being developed with respect for the local agricultural landscape and will have minimal impacts on local resources. The state-of-the-art data center campus will be LEED certified and will use a closed-loop cooling system, which limits daily water use to levels comparable to an office building.

As part of the project, Related Digital will also preserve over 750 acres of land as farmland, wetlands, and woodlands.

This project will deliver significant local benefits including:

  • Low Impact Cooling

    The project utilizes a closed-loop system for cooling with minimal water impacts.

  • Job Creation

    The project will generate 2,500+ construction jobs, 450+ jobs onsite, and 1,500+ jobs county-wide.

  • Significant Tax Benefits

    at least $1.6 million in annual tax revenue through 2039 and $8 million for area schools

  • Community Investment

    $2 million to establish a Community Investment Fund

  • Land Preservation

    Land Preservation

    $4 million for a Farmland Preservation Trust

  • Fire Safety

    $8 million for area fire departments  

Read Why Locals Support This Project

  • “A tremendous amount of progress has already been made in addressing questions and concerns about the project. We’re encouraged by the Township taking the next step in reviewing the plans and are excited about the opportunity this project represents for the community. These conversations help ensure the development moves forward in a way that benefits everyone. Taken together, the scale of investment represents both a major fiscal opportunity and an important step in ensuring our region keeps pace with modern infrastructure needs.”

    – Phil Santer, Senior Vice President & Chief of Staff, Ann Arbor SPARK

  • “I am a retired US Army veteran and retired local business owner. My wife Marian and I have lived in Saline Township for 53 years, across the road from the proposed data center development by Related Digital. We are 100% in favor of this project moving forward. While some of our neighbors may lament the loss of agricultural land, this development is far superior to the alternatives of solar or residential, which will absolutely move forward if this proposal fails. Related Digital has engaged in good faith with our community and listened to our concerns. Any development, data center, solar or residential will bring construction traffic and noise. This proposal preserves the overwhelming majority of the acreage as open landscape that could still be farmed; solar or residential developments would not. It provides the township with financial resources and benefits to maintain our rural character and way of life for generations to come”

    – Ed Groom, Saline Township Resident of 53 years

  • “We want to be clear that regardless of the Board’s decision on the rezoning request, the four parcels of our property included in Related Digital’s proposal won’t remain farmland. We have already terminated the Farmland Development Rights Agreements on those parcels. The only outstanding question is how will this land be developed? We want to make sure it’s put to the best use for us and for the Township as a whole. We think that the proposed data center is the best future use of our property, and we believe the facts back this up.”

    – Amy Marr and John Feldkamp, Sellers of Saline Township land to Related Digital

  • “It’s critical for sustaining it for the future, for our children, for our grandchildren. To have a revenue source that allows our community to grow and fund our local police and fire departments as well.”

    – John Brannan, Saline Township Resident of 20 years