Michigan for Responsible Data Centers seeks to promote collaboration and build trust.
“We’re striving to bring together a wide array of industry associations, utilities, infrastructure, research universities, and subject matter experts, including local leaders, to help inform this conversation.”
Jim Holcombe is president and CEO of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. It, along with five other cross-sector partners, support responsible data center development. The coalition admits there’s a perception government, utilities and corporations are not neutral messengers. President and CEO of Grand Rapids-based The Right Place, Randy Thelen is promoting trusted third-party expertise to assist with eliminating confusion.
“The companies behind these data centers must own that education process. They must reach further into the community, beyond the public hearing process and beyond the township board meetings, and go hold town hall meetings, open houses, and really help educate and build the trust within the communities.”
There are 4,000 data centers nationwide, 70 in Michigan, with at least three more proposed for West Michigan communities.
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