Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has filed a petition for rehearing with the Michigan Public Service Commission, urging regulators to reconsider their approval of special power contracts for a massive data center project in Washtenaw County. The move comes as the commission's decision to fast-track the deal has raised concerns about long-term impacts on electric rates, grid reliability, and the environment.
The 1.4-gigawatt hyperscale artificial intelligence data center, proposed by DTE Energy and set to be developed with Oracle, OpenAI, and developer Related Digital, is expected to consume as much electricity as nearly one million homes. The project's scale has sparked anxiety among residents, environmental advocates, and consumer watchdogs about the potential risks to ratepayers and the community.
Nessel's office has expressed concerns that the commission's decision was an "irresponsible approach" that cut corners and shut out the public and their advocates. She argues that the approval process served only the interests of DTE and the companies involved, rather than Michigan residents.
The attorney general is seeking clarification on how the conditions imposed by the commission will protect ratepayers, noting that many appear to rely on repeated assurances from DTE, rather than concrete commitments backed by evidence. Nessel also objects to the commission allowing DTE to serve as the project's financial backstop, rather than requiring the data center operator to provide sufficient collateral to cover potential risks.
The Michigan Public Service Commission has defended its decision, stating that its professional staff, advisory staff, and commissioners reviewed unredacted versions of the special contracts and ensured existing customers were protected. However, Nessel remains skeptical about the commission's claims, arguing that the conditions imposed are unclear and may not be enforceable.
As the controversy surrounding "Project Stargate" continues to unfold, residents and environmental groups have raised concerns about wetlands destruction, water contamination risks, and the permanent transformation of a rural farming community. More than 5,000 public comments opposing the data center power deal were submitted to the commission ahead of its December vote.
Nessel's move has sparked tension among Democrats in the state, with Governor Gretchen Whitmer publicly backing the project as "the largest economic project in Michigan history." However, U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed has released his own set of "terms of engagement" aimed at protecting communities from higher utility bills, grid strain, and environmental harm.
As the debate over data center projects continues to rage, Nessel's office is determined to ensure that Michigan residents are adequately protected. The attorney general has vowed to demand further clarity on what protections the commission has put in place and continue to push for a full contested case concerning the still-secret contracts.
The 1.4-gigawatt hyperscale artificial intelligence data center, proposed by DTE Energy and set to be developed with Oracle, OpenAI, and developer Related Digital, is expected to consume as much electricity as nearly one million homes. The project's scale has sparked anxiety among residents, environmental advocates, and consumer watchdogs about the potential risks to ratepayers and the community.
Nessel's office has expressed concerns that the commission's decision was an "irresponsible approach" that cut corners and shut out the public and their advocates. She argues that the approval process served only the interests of DTE and the companies involved, rather than Michigan residents.
The attorney general is seeking clarification on how the conditions imposed by the commission will protect ratepayers, noting that many appear to rely on repeated assurances from DTE, rather than concrete commitments backed by evidence. Nessel also objects to the commission allowing DTE to serve as the project's financial backstop, rather than requiring the data center operator to provide sufficient collateral to cover potential risks.
The Michigan Public Service Commission has defended its decision, stating that its professional staff, advisory staff, and commissioners reviewed unredacted versions of the special contracts and ensured existing customers were protected. However, Nessel remains skeptical about the commission's claims, arguing that the conditions imposed are unclear and may not be enforceable.
As the controversy surrounding "Project Stargate" continues to unfold, residents and environmental groups have raised concerns about wetlands destruction, water contamination risks, and the permanent transformation of a rural farming community. More than 5,000 public comments opposing the data center power deal were submitted to the commission ahead of its December vote.
Nessel's move has sparked tension among Democrats in the state, with Governor Gretchen Whitmer publicly backing the project as "the largest economic project in Michigan history." However, U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed has released his own set of "terms of engagement" aimed at protecting communities from higher utility bills, grid strain, and environmental harm.
As the debate over data center projects continues to rage, Nessel's office is determined to ensure that Michigan residents are adequately protected. The attorney general has vowed to demand further clarity on what protections the commission has put in place and continue to push for a full contested case concerning the still-secret contracts.
5,000+ public comments opposed the deal is insane!!! 
expect power outages & rate hikes for citizens 
it's not like we know what's gonna happen with those power deals or if the community is even being considered in this whole process... and now nessel's pushing for a full case because the commission's basically making these huge promises without backing them up 
can't say i'm surprised though, 5k+ comments against the project already showed how concerned people were about this thing...
We're the ones who'll be stuck with the bill if something goes wrong.
my aunt lives in Michigan and she's already worried about what this might do to her electric bills 
. I mean, 1.4 gigawatts is huge! We're already seeing inflation rising, and the thought of throwing that kind of power consumption at the grid is kinda concerning 
. It feels like we should have more transparency around how these deals are gonna work out in the long run 
.
. She's demandin clarity on the protections in place, which I think r super important. We can't just rush into things without considerin the long-term effects 
. Has she done her research? The ppl of Michigan deserve better than a half-baked solution 
. Will the commission do some real reviews or r they just gonna keep pushin thru w/ DTE's interests in mind? Fingers crossed for transparency & accountability 
This whole thing with Project Stargate just got more interesting 
. And what's up with Governor Whitmer backing this project without even considering public input? It's like she's more focused on economic growth than people's well-being 
. I hope Nessel's office can get some real answers about what's really going on here 
. We need more oversight, not less 
. And who knows, maybe this will lead to better regulations in the future 
... DTE Energy getting special treatment like this is crazy! They're basically expected to cover all potential risks themselves, without needing any actual collateral 
. I mean, I get that they wanna move forward with this massive project, but can't we at least have some transparency about how it's gonna affect us? Like, a proper breakdown of the costs and benefits, not just reassurances from DTE 
. And what's up with Governor Whitmer supporting this project without even considering public input? Shouldn't she be listening to her constituents instead of just going along with whatever DTE wants 
, I'd never risk messing with something that could harm my community like this. Nessel's right to question those conditions - we need concrete commitments from DTE, not just empty promises. This whole thing feels too big, too fast... let's take a step back and make sure we're protecting our residents' interests 
what's going on with the water contamination risks? 
we need more info on that 
. And hey, if it's done responsibly, with some solid planning and safeguards in place, I think we can minimize the risks 
.
... meanwhile, our state rep Gretchen Whitmer is over here singing the praises of this project like it's some kinda economic miracle 
, when really it's just a recipe for disaster... i'm all for growth and development, but not at the expense of our environment or our ratepayers 
It's not just about economic growth; it's also about protecting our environment and communities 
. I just wish we could have a more balanced discussion about this stuff, ya know? Like, what's in it for us as consumers? What are these companies really gettin' out of this deal? 
... although it could be a concern for some folks. The thing is, they've got over 5k public comments saying they don't want this project and Nessel is just trying to slow things down 
. Governor Gretchen Whitmer has already said she's all for it and Abdul El-Sayed's got his own terms of engagement... but Nessel just wants more clarity on the conditions, which I get 
. She doesn't want ratepayers getting taken advantage of or anything 