Marquette County residents can hear about the potential benefits and drawbacks of data center development at a free public session Thursday, Oct. 8, at Peter White Public Library.
The Lake Superior Community Partnership, Marquette County's economic development organization, is hosting the information session from 6 to 7:30 p.m., according to its official event listing. The event will cover potential opportunities, considerations and impacts tied to data center development in the region.
The session will be held in the library’s basement-level Community Room, 217 N. Front St. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Speakers include Ron Akers of Van Buren Township and Dakota Baker of the Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance.
Natalie Chmiko, CEO of the Lake Superior Community Partnership, said the event is not intended to advocate for or against data centers.
"Our role with this event isn't to advocate for or against data centers," Chmiko said, according to WBUP/WJMN. "It's to provide an opportunity for community members and municipal leaders to learn more and ask questions."
Space is limited. Advance registration is required through the LSCP event page.
The session follows an Aug. 10 panel hosted by the Northern Michigan Alliance for Responsible Development at Ore Dock Brewing Company in Marquette. Dozens attended, and similar discussions took place in Hancock, Sault Ste. Marie and Traverse City, according to WBUP/WJMN’s coverage.
A University of Michigan survey with responses from officials in 1,328 jurisdictions, released Sept. 22, found fewer than 1 in 5 Michigan local government officials believe large-scale data centers are worth their costs. Among Upper Peninsula officials, just 13% agreed that the benefits outweigh the costs, according to Bridge Michigan’s reporting.
The same survey found a majority of Michigan local leaders believe data center development would negatively affect water supply, utility costs, public health and overall quality of life. These findings reflect officials’ expectations, not measured impacts, according to the original university report.
At least 18 local governments across the state had voted on or proposed temporary halts to new data centers, according to Bridge Michigan’s Sept. 22 report.
In its June update, LSCP said it had recently attended a Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance forum in Gaylord to learn how communities could assess data center impacts.
